JP6975812B2 - Hybrid communication for devices on vehicles - Google Patents

Description

[Cross-reference to related applications]
This application was filed on November 8, 2013, and is a US patent provisional entitled "OPTIMIZING USAGE OF MODEMS FOR DATA DELIVERY TO DEVICES ON VEHICLES". Application No. 61 / 901,641 and filed on March 25, 2014, and "optimization of the use of a modem to deliver data to the device on the vehicle". ) ”, Claiming priority and interests on the filing date for US Patent Non-Provisional Application No. 14 / 225,077, the entire disclosure of these patent applications is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the present application is entitled "HYBRID COMMUNICATIONS FOR DEVICES ON VEHICLES" and is filed on March 25, 2014, US Patent Application No. 14 / 225,017 (agent arrangement). In connection with No. 32045/48011), the content of this patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The application is also entitled "DATA DELIVERY TO DEVICES ON VEHICLES USING MULTIPLE FORWARD LINKS" and was filed on March 25, 2014. In connection with the co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 225,050 (Agent Reference No. 32045/47946), the content of this patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Furthermore, the present application is entitled "VEHICLE DATA DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD" and is co-pending US Patent Application No. 13 / 675,200, filed November 13, 2012, A co-pending US patent application entitled "COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NODES ASSOCIATED WITH A VEHICLE" and filed on November 13, 2012. 675, 194, and "GROUND SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE DATA DISTRIBUTION", and a co-pending US patent application filed November 13, 2012, 13 / 675, 190. Related to the issue. The entire contents of these related applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present disclosure relates generally to the delivery of transmitted information to and from the vehicle-mounted device, and in particular to the vehicle-mounted device and to the vehicle-mounted device. To relate to a system that utilizes one or more forward and reverse links in different frequency bands to deliver transmission information.

Some existing airlines and other carriers have added Wi-Fi or other data delivery services to the equipment on board the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling on its way to its destination. , Provide service. The on-board device may be, for example, a device that is fixedly connected to a vehicle (eg, a device included in a line-replaceable unit (LRU) on an aircraft), or the on-board device may be a smartphone, tablet or laptop. It may be a portable computing device that is temporarily transported by a vehicle, such as a computing device. Providers often use wireless communication links to establish communication for services to such onboard devices, such as direct air-to-ground (ATG) links or satellite links. Yes, through these links, transmitted information or data is delivered to or from the vehicle. A wireless communication link is usually a bidirectional communication link through which all forward data (ie, data delivered to the vehicle) and all reverse data (ie, data transmitted from the vehicle). , Sent and received as well.

In certain environments, the bidirectional communication links that the onboard data service relies on are not available (eg, when the vehicle moves to a location outside the scope of the network), slow or crowded (eg,). , Due to a queue of undetermined upload requests), or malfunctions, and thus the onboard data service becomes unavailable to or unavailable to the device. Furthermore, since all transmitted information to a set of devices mounted on a vehicle usually traverses the same bidirectional link, certain data content types, download behaviors such as data files, or upload behaviors are subject to service. It may appear inconsistent to the user. For example, the message or transmission information transmitted by the device may appear to have zero latency, while the arrival of the requested content on the device appears to be significantly delayed. Moreover, certain bidirectional communication links have a limited number of assigned frequency bands, and constraints such as those imposed by hardware modems, protocols or regulatory bodies have been achieved with bandwidth and / or It further limits the possible throughput, which leads to the inability to optimize the user experience.

This overview is provided in [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention] to extract and convey a simplified concept further described below. This summary is not intended to identify the basic or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment, a method for optimizing the use of a modem on a vehicle determines that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states in a processor fixedly connected to the vehicle. Each of the plurality of port states can indicate that the vehicle is in the vicinity of the vehicle port. The method can include causing a first radio communication link to be established in a first modem, which may be fixedly connected to the vehicle, the first frequency band. May be adjusted to. The establishment of the first wireless communication link may be based on the determination that the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states, including causing the first modem to be in a receive-only state. be able to. Further, the method can include causing a second radio communication link to be established in the second modem, which may be fixedly connected to the vehicle and a second. It may be adjusted to a frequency band. Here, the second radio communication link may be established between the second modem and a transceiver that is fixedly connected to a structure that is outside and away from the vehicle. Further, the method can include the following steps: a step of using the first radio communication link as a forward link, wherein the vehicle is in the plurality of port states via the forward link. The first data can be received by the vehicle, while the second radio communication link is a reverse link (corresponding to the forward link and the maximum band of the forward link). The second data is transmitted from the vehicle via the reverse link while the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states), which is a step used as (has a lower maximum bandwidth). The step can be.

In one embodiment, a method for optimizing the use of a modem on a vehicle can include the following steps: in the processor of the data center, the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states. To decide. Each port state of the plurality of port states can indicate that the vehicle is in the vicinity of the vehicle port, and the plurality of port states may be included in a plurality of flight states of the vehicle. .. The method can include causing a data communication tunnel to be established between the data center and a computing device mounted on the vehicle. The on-board computing device may include a vehicle-side endpoint of the data communication tunnel. The data communication tunnel may be supported by a forward communication link, which may be directly connected to a first modem, which may (i) be fixedly connected to the vehicle. Well, (iii) may be in a receive-only state, (iii) may be tuned to the first frequency band; and the data communication tunnel may be supported by a reverse communication link, said reverse. The communication link may be directly connected to the second modem, which may be (i) fixedly connected to the vehicle and (ii) tuned to the second frequency band. Further, the method can include the following steps: causing the content data to be delivered to the onboard computing device while the vehicle is in one of the plurality of port states. Here, the delivery may be performed by using the forward link of the data communication tunnel, and the forward link may be supported by the forward communication link). Further, the method can include a step of receiving feedback data, the feedback data may correspond to the content data, and the reception is done via a reverse link of the data communication tunnel. The reverse link may be supported by the reverse communication link, and the reception may be performed while the vehicle is in one of the plurality of port states.

A hybrid communication system for optimizing the use of a modem on a vehicle can include one or more processors and one or more non-temporary, tangible, computer-readable storage media, which media are computers. Can store executable instructions. Instructions that can be executed by the computer can cause the hybrid communication system to perform the following operations when executed by the one or more processors: a plurality of ports indicating that the vehicle is in the vicinity of the vehicle port. Establishing a data communication tunnel with a computing device fixedly connected to the vehicle when the vehicle is in one of the states. The computing device may be a receiving computing device and may include an endpoint of the data communication tunnel. Further, the data communication tunnel may include a forward tunnel link, the link may be at least partially supported by the forward communication link, and the forward communication link may be connected to a first modem. Often, the modem may be (i) fixedly connected to the vehicle, communicably connected to the receiving computing device, or (ii) in a receive-only state. (Iii) It may be adjusted to the first frequency band. Further, the data communication tunnel may include a reverse tunnel link, the link may be at least partially supported by the reverse communication link, and the reverse communication link may be connected to a second modem. Often, the modem may be (i) fixedly connected to the vehicle and communicably connected to the receiving computing device, and (ii) tuned to a second frequency band. May be good. The instructions that the computer can execute can cause the hybrid communication system to perform the following operations when executed by the one or more processors: the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states. While causing the content data to be delivered to the receiving computing device through the forward tunnel link; and to the content data while the vehicle is in one of the plurality of port states. Receiving the corresponding feedback data through the reverse tunnel link.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary hybrid communication system for delivering data to and from a device mounted on a set of vehicles. FIG. 2 shows an example of a method of providing hybrid transmission information to and from a device mounted on a set of vehicles. FIG. 3 shows an example of a method of providing hybrid transmission information to and from a device mounted on a set of vehicles. FIG. 4 depicts an example of a method for optimizing the use of a modem or transceiver for a vehicle. FIG. 5 depicts an example method for using a hybrid communication system aimed at effectively using a modem or transceiver with respect to a vehicle. FIG. 6 includes an example of a block diagram of a data communication tunnel established in a hybrid communication system. FIG. 7 shows an example of a method for delivering content to a device being transported by a vehicle in a distributed or hybrid manner. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a method for delivering content to a device mounted on a vehicle in a distributed or hybrid manner. FIG. 9 is an example of a system housed in a vehicle configured to receive hybrid transmission information or data on the vehicle and deliver the received information or data to a receiving device mounted on the vehicle. It is a block diagram of. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example computing device that may be used in a hybrid communication system.

The following text provides a detailed description of a number of different embodiments, but the legal scope of that description is defined by the wording and equivalents of the claims revealed at the end of this patent document. Please understand that it will be done. The detailed description should be construed as an example only and does not describe any possible embodiment, because it is impractical to describe every possible embodiment. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, but these alternative embodiments are still claimed. Will fall within the range of.

It should be further understood that, in this patent, the sentence "as used herein, the term'---' is defined here to mean ...", or Unless a term is explicitly defined using similar sentences, there is no intention to limit the meaning of the term, either explicitly or implicitly, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning. And such terms should not be construed to be limited to the scope of any statement (other than the claims) made in any section of this patent. As long as any term listed in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, it is intended to be clear so as not to confuse the reader. Such references are made, and it is not intended that the terms of such claims are implied or otherwise limited to their single meaning. Finally, unless the claims are defined by enumerating the word "means" and features that do not elaborate on any structure, the scope of any claims is 35 US Patent Law No. 35. It is not intended to be interpreted on the basis of the application of Article 112, Section 6.

In addition, any part or all of the content of this disclosure is optional in the co-pending US Patent Application No. 13 / 675,200 entitled "VEHICLE DATA DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD". It may work in connection with parts or all, and the content of this patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition, any part or all of the content of this disclosure is co-pending US Patent Application No. 13 entitled "COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NODES ASSOCIATIOND WITH A VEHICLE". You may work in connection with any or all of the disclosures of / 675,194, the contents of this patent application being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In addition, any part or all of the content of this disclosure is the content of the simultaneously pending US Patent Application No. 13 / 675, 190 entitled "GROUND SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE DATA DISTRIBUTION". It may work in connection with any part or all, and the content of this patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Furthermore, any part or all of the content of this disclosure is a co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled "HYBRID COMMUNICATIONS FOR DEVICES ON VEHICLES". Simultaneous U.S. Patents entitled "DATA DELIVERY TO DEVICES ON VEHICLES USING MULTIPLE FORWARD LINKS (Data Delivery to Devices on Vehicles Using Multiple Forward Links)". Application No. It may work in connection with No. 32045/47946A, the contents of these patent applications being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hybrid communication system 100 for transmitting information or data to and from a device transported by vehicle 102. The system 100 mounts the data or information from the data center 105 or from the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 contained in the data center 105 into a particular device mounted on one of the vehicles 102 (eg, vehicle 102x). It is configured to deliver to device 118). In some embodiments, the hybrid communication system 100 is configured to deliver feedback information from the vehicle 102x to the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104, and the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104. , Feedback information may be used to inform the on-board device 118 or other on-board device of subsequent data delivery. In one embodiment, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 and the data center 105 are vehicles via one or more vehicle data delivery networks 106, one or more forward links 108, and one or more reverse links 110. It is connected to 102 so that it can communicate with it.

The one or more vehicles 102 may be owned and / or operated by a particular individual. In some cases, one or more of the vehicles 102 may be owned by a company, organization or government agency and / or may be operated by a company, organization or government agency. For example, vehicle 102 may include a group of vehicles used to transport passengers, who are allowed to pay or otherwise board one of the group of vehicles. ing. In certain situations, vehicle 102 may include one or more vehicles used by an organization, which is intended to transport employees or their customers. One or more vehicles 102 may be used to transport live or non-living cargo, parcels, mail, and / or other types of cargo. Although FIG. 1 depicts the vehicle 102 as an airplane, the techniques and principles described herein apply equally to other types of vehicles, where the other type of vehicle is a truck. For cars, buses, trains, boats, ships, pleasure boats, subway trains, helicopters or other types of aircraft, ambulances or other emergency vehicles, military vehicles, other air vehicles, water vehicles, or land vehicles, and space travel. It's like a suitable vehicle.

Each of the vehicles 102 may be communicably connected to the data center 105 via one or more forward radio communication links 108 and one or more reverse radio communication links 110. The link 108 and the link 110 may be collectively supported by multiple radio frequency (RF) bands. Typically, a particular frequency band or portion of the RF frequency band supporting the link 108, link 110 is a particular type of radio communication, such as satellite communication, ham radio communication, terrestrial mobile communication, proximity radio communication, and the like. Assigned to (eg, by the government or by a regulatory body). In some allocated frequency bands, radio communication may be transmitted over forward and corresponding reverse links using their respective radio communication protocols. Here, each radio communication protocol is defined, designated, or otherwise directed by a standardization association and / or by government or by other regulatory bodies. Certain frequency bands may, for example, support point-to-point radio protocols and / or broadband radio protocols.

Each frequency band may include one or more channels. Channels may be formed, defined, or assigned by frequency divisions, time divisions, diacritics, some other suitable channel divisions, or some combination of these divisions. The signals carried on the channel may or may not be multiplexed. Any one or more channels included in the frequency band may (or may be designated to support) forward and / or reverse links for wireless communication. In addition, any one or more channels included in the frequency band may be used to deliver a signal transfer, a net data load (loading), or a combination of a signal and a net data load. For example, a particular frequency band may support an in-band protocol, in which signal transmission and net load are transmitted through the same channel in the band and / or a particular frequency band is out of band. Protocols may be supported, in which the out-of-band protocol allows signal transmission and net load to be transmitted through different channels within the band, respectively.

A transceiver or modem fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x may be tuned to a particular frequency band and, therefore, together with each antenna, may serve as one end of a communication link. Through the communication link, the data may be received on and / or transmitted from the vehicle 102x. Similarly, a transceiver or modem fixedly connected to a structure 112 external to the vehicle 102x is also tuned to a particular frequency band and, therefore, together with each antenna, the other of the communication links. Data may be received on and / or transmitted from the vehicle 102x through this communication link. The structure 112 that supports the non-vehicle end of the communication link is a fully stationary ground structure, such as a building or tower on the ground, on a relatively stationary earth, such as a cliff in the ocean. It may be a non-ground structure, such as a structure in the above, or a satellite or other structure in space. In FIG. 1, the display of the structure 112 is duplicated to clearly show the forward link 108 and the reverse link 110. However, in practice, each structure 112 may be an integrated structure with a single physical transceiver or modem on top of it, and the transceivers or modems are both forward links 108 and, respectively. The service is provided to the reverse link 110. For example, the teleport 112b may include a transceiver servicing both the satellite forward link 108b and the satellite reverse link 110b in a particular frequency band allocated for satellite communication. In some cases, a single structure 112 may include multiple transceivers or modems, each of which may be tuned to a different frequency band.

Further with respect to the structure 112, in addition to having a transceiver or modem supporting one end of a particular communication link 108, 110 to the vehicle 102x, each structure 112 may include a different interface. The communication path 115 to the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 in the data center 105 is communicably connected via the interface of. The interface to the communication path 115 may be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface.

The vehicle 102x may include one or more fixedly connected modems or transceivers to support one or more communication links 108, 110 over one or more frequency bands, and the vehicle 102x may include. These modems or transceivers may be used to receive and / or transmit data from the vehicle 102x. For example, the vehicle 102x may include a transceiver or modem on itself, which is the frequency band assigned for direct communication between the vehicle 102 and the terrestrial station, or direct empty. The ground (ATG) communication link is tuned to a supported frequency band (eg, 849-851 MHz and 894-896 MHz). Such an ATG communication link is represented in FIG. 1 by a forward link 108a and a reverse link 110a. The vehicle 102x may, in addition or instead, include a transceiver or modem on its own, which is satellite communication (represented by forward link 108b and reverse link 110b in FIG. 1). It is adjusted to a frequency band allocated for, wherein the frequency band, L-band (e.g., 40～60GHz or 1-2 GHz), K _u band (e.g., 12~18GHz), K _a band (e.g. , 26.5-40 GHz), and / or other frequency bands assigned for satellite communications.

Other examples of communication links that can be established with respect to the vehicle 102x include terrestrial mobile communication links or terrestrial mobile communication links (represented by reference numerals 108c / 110c in FIG. 1), which are eg, for example. , TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), GSM® (Global System for Mobile Communication), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) Wi-MAX (Global Interoperability for Microwave Access), A communication link that supports LTE (Long Term Evolution) and / or other terrestrial mobile communication technologies. A type of communication link that can be established with respect to the vehicle 102x, yet another example is a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a Wi-Fi assigned frequency band (eg, 2.4 and / or 5 GHz). The Wi-Fi® link supported above. Here, the Wi-Fi link uses a protocol corresponding to the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 standard, which refers to the reference code 108c for the Wi-Fi forward link and the Wi-Fi reverse link. As represented in FIG. 1, by reference numeral 110c. A type of wireless communication link that can be established with respect to the vehicle 102x, yet another example is an infrared, microwave, or other light-based communication link, or line-of-sight (LOS). Includes wireless communication link. However, as is clear, any suitable radio communication link, including forward and / or reverse communication links, is the communication between the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 and the vehicle 102x. May be supported.

In one embodiment, one or more transceivers or modems fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x may operate in one-way mode, while one or more fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x. Other transceivers or modems may operate in bidirectional mode. For example, a transceiver or modem on the vehicle 102x tuned to the satellite communication frequency band may be used in receive-only mode, while another transceiver on the vehicle 102x tuned to the ATG communication frequency band. Alternatively, the modem may be used in both receive and transmit modes.

Now, looking at the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 included in the data center 105 of the system 100, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may include, in one embodiment, a set of computer-executable instructions. These instructions are stored on one or more non-temporary, tangible computer-readable storage media (eg, one or more memory or data storage entities) and one or more processors in the data center 105. Is feasible. (The data center 105 generally includes one or more computing devices with processors and will be described in more detail in later sections of the present disclosure.) The hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may be, for example, a vehicle 102x. It may be managed to deliver data or information through links 108 and 110 from device 118 being transported by and from device 118 being transported by vehicle 102x.

The device 118 may be a device fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x (eg, a computing device included in a row exchange unit (LRU) on an aircraft), or the device is temporarily transported by the vehicle. It may be a portable device such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop (eg, a portable computing device belonging to a passenger aboard a vehicle). In one embodiment, device 118 is a computing device, which includes at least one memory, at least one processor, and, if desired, at least one user interface and at least one wireless network interface. And include. As used herein, the terms "target device," "receiver device," and "device" are exchanged to refer to device 118 that is mounted on or transported by the device. Used as possible. Then, the data outside the vehicle will be electronically delivered to these.

The data to be delivered to device 118 may include any type of data. For example, the data may include content data that can be consumed by the user, such as text messages, web pages, media files, stream data, and / or responses to previous requests received in the user interface of device 118. Can be mentioned. In some cases, the data to be delivered to the device 118 includes the data to be presented in the user interface of the device 118. In some scenarios, the data to be delivered to device 118 may be an application, configuration, update, or software requested to be downloaded by the user of device 118.

In one embodiment, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may select one of the forward links 108, each of which is one for delivering data or information to the device 118. Supported by one or more assigned frequency bands. The hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may also receive feedback data or information from the vehicle 102x through the reverse link 110 supported by the assigned different frequency bands. For example, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may select one particular forward link, eg, satellite communication forward link 108b, from the link 108, which forward to device 118. Supported by a specific frequency band for delivering data. The hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may receive feedback information from the vehicle 102x from the link 110 via a specific reverse link. Here, the link 110 (eg, ATG reverse link 110a) is supported by a frequency band different from the particular frequency to which the forward data was delivered. In some embodiments, the particular reverse link may be selected from a set of reverse links 110. Therefore, in this embodiment, forward links and reverse links in different frequency bands are paired or associated for data delivery purposes.

At a minimum, forward and reverse links are supported by different frequency bands, so different message protocols and / or delivery methods (eg, broadcast, multicast, unicast) are to receive feedback information from vehicle 102. In addition to being used, it may be used to transmit information to the vehicle 102. For example, a broadband protocol may be used to deliver data through a selected forward link 108b, and a point-to-point protocol may be used to deliver data through a reverse link 108a. May be good. In addition or instead, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may cause the transmission to be multicast over the forward link 108b and, in unicast form, receive feedback information through the reverse link 108a. May be good. With respect to frequency bands, message protocols, and / or delivery methods across forward and reverse links 108, and their choices, such differences, while complying with existing modem constraints and / or regulatory requirements. At the same time, the hybrid communication system 100 may be able to efficiently utilize the available frequency bands.

In one embodiment, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may select one or more forward links from the link 108, each of which may be supported by a different frequency band. , In the device 118 mounted on the vehicle 102x, as a whole, for distributed or hybrid delivery of data or information to be received. For example, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may select both the satellite communication forward link 108b and the ATG forward link 108a to deliver forward data as a whole to device 118, and the data. The first part may be delivered using the satellite forward link 108b, while the second part of the data may be delivered using the ATG forward link 108a. In some cases, more than two forward links 108 may be selected for distributed data delivery to the vehicle 102x. In this example, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 is via a reverse link (eg, satellite communication reverse link 110b or ATG reverse link 110a) that is contained in the same frequency band as one of the selected forward links. Feedback information may be received from the vehicle 102x. Instead, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 receives feedback information from the vehicle 102x via a reverse link, eg, the reverse link 110c, that is not in the same frequency band as any of the selected forward links. May be good.

Therefore, in view of the above, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 is generally selected in order to transmit data to the vehicle 102 and receive feedback information from the vehicle 102 in a distributed or hybrid manner. Any suitable combination of forward link 108, reverse link 110, message protocol, and / or delivery method may be utilized. Selection and use of the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 and one or more forward and reverse links 110 thereof, message protocol, and / or data delivery between the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 and the on-board device 118. The delivery method for this is described in more detail in the later sections of this disclosure.

Looking at vehicle 102 here, some or all parts of vehicle 102 (eg, vehicle 102x) may each include their respective on-board node 120, but the purpose is to be received and received on vehicle 102x. This is to manage the data intended to be delivered to the particular on-board device 118. In one implementation, the on-board node 120 may manage the data, which may be generated by the on-board device 118 and to be transmitted from the vehicle 102x. Further, within the vehicle 102x itself, the on-board node 120 transmits data to and from the on-board device 118, for example, by using one or more communication networks housed in the vehicle 102x. Information may be managed. In one embodiment, the on-board node 120 may include one or more computing devices communicably connected to one or more transceivers or modems fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x. Further, the on-board node 120 is communicably connected to one or more wired and / or wireless communication networks housed in the vehicle 102x. In one embodiment, the on-board node 120 is the on-board data, such as the data distribution device described in the co-pending US Patent Application No. 13 / 675,200, entitled "Vehicle Data Distribution System and Method" described above. Included in the distribution system or device.

In some cases, the onboard node 120 may include a hybrid transmission information collector 122. In one embodiment, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may include a set of computer-executable instructions, which are stored on a non-temporary, tangible, computer-readable storage medium (eg, memory). And can be executed by one or more processors of the onboard node 120. The hybrid transmission information collector 122 may receive the transmission information provided by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 via one or more forward links 108 and their respective modems, where the transmission information of this transmission information. The content is intended to be delivered to a particular on-board device 118. The hybrid transmission information collector 122 may determine the receiver 118 and may cause the content of the received transmission information to be delivered to the receiver 118 via one or more onboard networks. good. In addition, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 transmits feedback data or information for delivery to the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 via one or more reverse links 110 and their respective modems. May cause it to be done. The feedback data or information is, for example, data or information associated with any one or more transmission information previously received through one or more forward links 108, the state of any one or more forward links 108. Or it may contain data or information indicating a condition and / or data or information indicating the state or condition of any one or more reverse links 110.

Now, looking at the vehicle data delivery network 106, in one embodiment, at least a portion of the vehicle data delivery network 106 may be located on the ground, for example, packet network routers, optical switches, and the like. , May be installed in a climate controlled structure on the ground. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the vehicle data delivery network 106 may be located at a location other than the ground, for example, the routing node may be located on a satellite or aircraft. The vehicle data delivery network 106 may include a public network, a private network, or some combination of one or more public networks and one or more private networks. The vehicle data delivery network 106 may include a communication network, a data network, a packet network, or some combination thereof. The vehicle data delivery network 106 may include a host network, or may be peer-to-peer or other type of ad hoc network. In fact, the vehicle data delivery network 106 may use any known network technology or a combination thereof for data delivery. For example, the vehicle data delivery network 106 is any known network technique for delivering data between one or more structures 112 and a data center 105 or a hybrid transmission information distributor 104 in a data center 105. Alternatively, a combination of these may be used. In general, the vehicle data delivery network 106 may include multiple computing devices that are communicably connected. One or more portions of the vehicle data delivery network 106 are described in, in one embodiment, in the co-pending US patent application 13 / 675, 190 entitled "Ground System for Vehicle Data Distribution" described above. It may be included in a ground-based system.

The data center 105 may be communicably connected to the vehicle data delivery network 106 and may include one or more computing devices in the communicable connection so that the one or more computing devices may be communicable. , Collectively to other networks and / or computing devices, appear as a single logical entity. In one embodiment, the data center 105 includes a hybrid transmission information distributor 104. The data center 105 may be installed at least partially in a ground environment (eg, in one or more stationary buildings or structures). For example, one or more parts of the data center 105 may be included in a terrestrial distribution network, such as the terrestrial distribution network described in US Patent Application No. 13 / 675,190, which is previously pending. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the data center 105 may be installed in a non-ground environment (eg, on an aircraft, satellite, or space station). However, as is clear, the data center 105 may be installed in any suitable environment, whether stationary, mobile, in a vehicle, on the ground, or not on the ground. In one embodiment, a plurality of data centers 105 may be included in the hybrid communication system 100, which may include different types of data, different customers, different geographic areas, or any other desirable distinction or appropriate. This is to provide a service for the distinction.

The data center 105, and in particular the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 included in the data center 105, may be communicably connected to one or more other networks 132 via one or more gateways 130. In general, the gateway 130 may include one or more computing devices in a communicable connection and may serve as a boundary between the hybrid communication system 100 and one or more other networks 132. .. In some embodiments, at least some of the computing devices included in the gateway 130 may also be included in the data center 105. The other one or more networks 132 communicably connected to the gateway 130 may include, for example, the Internet, a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), and / or some other public network. In addition or instead, the other one or more networks 132 may include one or more private networks. The one or more networks 132 may include any number of wired and / or wireless networks. Although FIG. 1 shows a data center 105 connected to another network 132 via one gateway 130, the techniques and principles described herein apply equally to the hybrid communication system 100. Here, the hybrid communication system 100 has any desired number of other networks 132 and / or is communicably connected to any desired number of other networks 132 via any number of gateways 130. ing. In some embodiments of the system 100, the gateway 130 may be omitted.

In one embodiment, the other network 132 may provide data, for example via a gateway 130 or via a direct connection, where the data is delivered to a particular device 118 mounted on the vehicle 102x. Will be done. In one example, the other network 132 is a PSTN communicatively connected to the terrestrial mobile network, where the terrestrial mobile network is home to device 118 and the data to be delivered to device 118 is: A text message or voicemail forwarded by the home system. In another example, another network 132 is communicably connected to one or more computing devices via gateway 130, which is the web that the user of device 118 requests access to. Provide a site. Information associated with the website (eg, web pages, objects, and links about them) will then be delivered to device 118 for display on the user interface of device 118 at the user's request. Become. In yet another example, another network 132 is communicably connected to the streaming media provider and the stream video file is delivered to the on-board device 118 for consumption by the device user in the user interface. The data to be done. Of course, any type of data, mounted on the vehicle 102x and delivered to the designated device 118, is sent to the data center 105 by any other network 132 (via the gateway 130 if necessary). May be provided. Here, any type of data is, for example, a text message, a web page, media content, streaming data, a response to a previous request received in the device 118 user interface, data to be presented in the device 118 user interface. , Application, configuration, or other software that the user of device 118 has requested to download from another network 132. In addition, the response data or information (eg, user-controlled activation, response text message, request or command, etc.) received from the on-board device 118 received by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 (if necessary, the gateway 130. It may be delivered to another network 132 (via).

FIG. 2 shows an example of method 200 for providing transmission information to and from a device being transported by a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method 200 is at least partially implemented by the hybrid communication system 100 of FIG. 1, but some or all of the method 200 may be implemented by a communication system other than the system 100. good. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the method 200 may be implemented by the data center 105 or by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 of the data center 105. For the sake of brevity, method 200 will be described below with reference to system 100 of FIG. 1 at the same time. However, this is understood to be merely one of many embodiments and is not limiting.

As previously discussed, the data or receiver device of the information contained in the transmitted information may be a computing device fixedly connected to the vehicle (eg, a device included in the LRU on an aircraft). Alternatively, the device may be a portable computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop computing device that is temporarily transported by vehicle. In fact, the device may be any device connected to any on-board communication network communicable with the on-board node, where data is received on the vehicle via the on-board node. And / or delivered from the vehicle. For simplicity of discussion, but not for limited purposes, Method 200 is described below in the context of one scenario example, in which device 118 is transported by a particular vehicle 102x.

In block 202, the content to be delivered to the particular device 118 being transported by the particular vehicle 102x is, for example, from network 132, vehicle data delivery network 106, data center 105, or from any other suitable source. , May be received. For example, the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 of the data center 105 may receive content to be delivered to device 118. The received content can be consumed by the user of device 118 and may include any type of data, such as text messages, web pages, media content, streaming data, user interface of device 118. It is like a response to a previous request received in and / or data to be presented in the user interface of device 118. In some cases, the received content may be an application, configuration, other software that the user of device 118 has requested to download to device 118, or other data.

In one embodiment, the content is received in connection with the instruction that the received content should be specifically delivered only to the device 118. For example, the received content may be received in one or more packets, messages or other transmission formats, where the other transmission format specifically and independently directs a particular device 118, or Contains the destination address to identify. In some cases, the particular device 118 is the only device being transported by a set of vehicles 102 to receive content. In receiving the content and instructions of the device 118, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may determine that the device 118 is currently being transported (eg, equipped with the device) by the vehicle 102x.

At block 205, transmission (eg, a message, packet, or other suitable form of communication) may be triggered to be transmitted to the vehicle 102x via the vehicle data delivery network 106 and the forward link 108. Device 118 is being transported on the vehicle 102x. For example, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may cause forward transmission to be transmitted to the vehicle 102x. The forward transmission may include at least a portion of the received content and instructions of the device 118, where the content contained in the forward transmission is delivered to the device 118. The forward link 108 may be supported by a first assigned frequency band, wherein the forward link 108 is, for example, a forward link 108a in the ATG communication band or a forward link 108b in the satellite communication band. May be good. In one embodiment, the forward link 108 may be included in a frequency band allocated for broadband communication.

In one embodiment, the forward transmission may be transmitted as a multicast transmission, which is, for example, a transmission transmitted to multiple destinations (including the vehicle 102x) in an essentially parallel manner. .. Although the content contained in the forward transmission should be delivered only to device 118 and not to other devices mounted on vehicle 102x or to other devices mounted on other vehicle 102. , Forward transmission may be multicast to multiple vehicles 102. In one embodiment, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may include content to be delivered to the device 118, and an indication or identifier of the device 118 in forward transmission, and the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may include forward transmission. May be triggered to be multicast over a forward link (eg, forward link 108b in the satellite communication band). Therefore, multicast transmissions may be received by a particular vehicle 102x and by one or more other vehicles 102, which have a modem tuned to a frequency band and through that frequency band. Forward transmission is multicast. Each vehicle 102 that receives the multicast transmission determines, for example, whether or not the device 118 to which the content carried in the multicast transmission should be delivered is currently installed based on the instruction of the device 118 included in the multicast transmission. It may be decided individually. In one embodiment, the plurality of contents to be delivered to the plurality of receiving devices mounted on the plurality of vehicles may be multiplexed in a single forward transmission.

At block 208, feedback information or data corresponding to the forward transmission transmitted to the vehicle 102x through the forward link is received. In one embodiment, the feedback information is received by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104, which reception is a frequency band assigned differently from the frequency band supporting the forward link to which the forward transmission was transmitted. It is done via a reverse link supported by. For example, if in block 205 the forward link to which the forward transmission is transmitted is the forward link 108b of the satellite communication link, then in block 208 the reverse link for which feedback information is received is ATG reverse. It may be a link 110a or a Wi-Fi reverse link 110c. In one embodiment, the feedback information is included in a unicast transmission transmitted over a reverse link. For example, unicast transmission may be transmitted from the vehicle 102x via the selected return link 110. The feedback information may then be delivered to the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 via, for example, a vehicle data delivery network 106 using a unicast transmission format or another format.

The feedback information may include, in one embodiment, information or data corresponding to forward transmission (block 202). For example, the feedback information may include signal transmission information corresponding to the forward transmission received on the vehicle 102x through the forward link, for example, the feedback information may be forward notification of forward transmission or expected content in order. It may include reverse signal transmission, such as a receipt notification of an instruction not received in the directional transmission. Therefore, forward links in one frequency band can serve as forward data or net load delivery links. And a reverse link in another frequency band may serve as a signaling link corresponding to a forward data link or a net load delivery link. Such use of forward and reverse links in different frequency bands makes efficient use of available communication frequency bands in some cases, while complying with certain hardware / software constraints or regulatory requirements. May be possible.

For example, multiple forward data delivered to each of the vehicle 102x or various devices mounted on the vehicle 102 are transmitted in a single forward direction through a broadband forward link (eg, forward satellite communication link 108b). It may be multiplexed inside. In one embodiment, the multiplexed forward transmission may be multicast to multiple vehicles 102. The reverse signal transmission corresponding to the forward transmission is from the vehicle 102x (or vehicle 102) through the corresponding higher bandwidth reverse link rather than through the lower bandwidth reverse link (eg, reverse). It may be transmitted (eg, via the ATG link 110a or the reverse Wi-Fi link 110c) (eg, reverse signal transmission is not transmitted through the reverse satellite communication link 110b in this example). In some cases, forward signal transmission corresponding to the net load is transmitted from the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 over a lower bandwidth link (eg, forward ATG link 108a or forward Wi-Fi link 108c). May be done.

In some embodiments, the feedback information may include information corresponding to the availability, bandwidth, and / or quality of the transmission of the forward link from which the forward transmission is received. For example, the on-board data distribution node 120 may determine the quality of the forward link for which the forward transmission was received, but is this determination expected for error correction, delay, and / or content? , Or not, based on the characteristics of the received forward transmission. In some cases, the onboard data distribution node 120 may determine the quality of the forward link (and / or the availability or bandwidth of the forward link for that matter). It is done via other data such as the strength of the signal received through the forward link, the information detected by the link monitor, and so on. In a similar manner, the onboard data distribution node 120 determines the availability, bandwidth, and / or quality of transmission of any or all of the other forward link 108 and / or the reverse link 110. You may.

At block 210, the forward link for which subsequent transmissions should be delivered to the vehicle 102x (eg, "following forward link") may be selected based on the feedback information received. In one embodiment, after the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 receives feedback information (block 208), the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 delivers subsequent transmissions to the vehicle 102x based on the received feedback information. You may choose a subsequent forward link that should be used for. For example, if the feedback information indicates that the quality of one transmission or bandwidth of the forward link has fallen below the threshold, that particular forward link may be removed from the forward link selection population. This removed condition may continue at least until the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 receives an instruction that the quality or bandwidth of a particular forward link has returned to an acceptable level.

In one embodiment, subsequent forward links may, in addition or instead, be selected based on the type of content contained in the subsequent forward transmission. For example, the first forward transmission may include a text message to be delivered to device 118, whereas subsequent forward transmission should be delivered to another device mounted on the vehicle 102x. It may include streaming media content. In this example, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may select the ATG forward link 108a to deliver the text message (eg, if the ATG forward link 108a currently supports a relatively small text message). The hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may select the satellite forward link 108b to deliver streaming media content (if it has sufficient extra bandwidth to do so). The reason is that the satellite forward link 108b may be a broadband connection link having a larger bandwidth or speed than the ATG forward link 108a. This can better support relatively large media content. For example, the bandwidth or velocity of the satellite forward link 108b may be twice as large as that of the ATG forward link 108a, and may be three times larger, four times larger, five times larger, six times larger, 7 It may be twice as large or a multiple greater than seven. In some cases, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may select forward links based on the latency that can be tolerated for the particular content of subsequent forward transmission. For example, a non-real time (non-real time) media stream such as video may be buffered for later delivery to the receiving device or for delayed delivery.

At block 212, subsequent forward transmissions are triggered to be transmitted to the vehicle 102x using the selected forward link. For example, subsequent forward transmissions may be triggered to be transmitted to the vehicle 102x in the manner previously discussed for block 205.

Any part or all of the method 200 may be performed while the vehicle 102x is in any state. The arbitrary state is an arbitrary state indicating the dynamic motion of the vehicle 102x, or an arbitrary state indicating that the vehicle 102x is in the middle or is between the starting point and the destination. For example, the vehicle 102x may be an aircraft, and at least a portion of method 200 may be performed while the vehicle 102x is in the next state. The state is a state in which the vehicle 102x is in any one of a plurality of flight states, for example, in flight, ascending, descending, a wheel load (weight on wheel) state, or a plurality of possible states. Any one of the port states.

With respect to a "port state", generally as used herein, a "port" may be a designated place where a vehicle departs from and arrives at that location. .. Examples of ports may include airports, cargo ports, railway stations, hospitals, cargo terminals, bus terminals, gas stations, vehicle maintenance or service areas, military bases, aircraft carriers, and the like. Thus, the "port state" of a vehicle, as used herein, generally refers to the state of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is near (or closest to) the vehicle port, eg, the vehicle takes off. They are in a state of being, landing, moving on the ground, parked, in a dock, in a port, in a loading yard, and so on. The port state may indicate that the vehicle is or is not stationary. The port state may be determined, for example, by determining that the vehicle is within a certain distance of the port, which determination is, for example, the geospatial location of the vehicle (eg, Global Positioning System or GPS). (As determined by) and / or by detecting the presence and / or signal strength of the beacon signal transmitted by the transceiver of the port. Of course, even non-aircraft vehicles can be in the port state. That is, for example, when the boat is in the port or docked at the port, when the truck is at a gas station or weighing station, or when the vehicle is not moving halfway between the ports.

In one embodiment, the entire method 200 is performed while the vehicle 102x is in the port state. In one embodiment, the entire method 200 is performed while the vehicle 102x is in a dynamic motion state (eg, during flight, during voyage, or while moving along a highway). In one embodiment, the entire method 200 is stopped while the vehicle 102x is stationary (eg, while parked at a gate, stopped at a rest area, or stopped at a guided runway. (While), it will be executed.

FIG. 3 shows an example of method 220 for providing transmission information to and from a device being transported by a vehicle. In one embodiment, method 220 is at least partially implemented by the hybrid communication system 100 of FIG. However, some or all of the method 220 may be performed by a communication system other than system 100. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the method 220 is carried out by the hybrid transmission information collector 122 included in the onboard node 120. In one embodiment, the method 220 may operate in connection with at least a portion of the method 200 of FIG. For the sake of brevity, method 220 will be described below with reference to system 100 in FIG. 1 and method 200 in FIG. 2 at the same time. However, it should be understood that this description is merely one of many embodiments and is non-limiting.

As previously discussed, the receiving device for the information or data contained in the transmitted information received by the vehicle may be any device communicable with any onboard communication network, and then The arbitrary on-board communication network is communicably connected to the on-board node, and transmission information is received on the vehicle via the on-board node. The method 220 is described below in the context of one scenario example, but not for limited purposes, solely for the purpose of simplifying the discussion, in which device 118 is transported by a particular vehicle 102x. It is a portable computing device.

At block 222, forward transmissions containing content to be delivered to the portable device 118 mounted on the vehicle 102x are received on the vehicle 102x. For example, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 of the on-board node 120 may receive forward transmissions containing content to be delivered to device 118. In one embodiment, the content should be delivered only to device 118 and not to any other device mounted on the vehicle 102x. The content should be presented by the user interface of device 118, stored or executed by device 118, or utilized by device 118 or by the user of device 118, as previously discussed. It may contain any other data.

Forward transmission may be received through one of the plurality of forward links to the vehicle 102x and each modem fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x (block 222). The forward link in which the forward transmission is received may be supported by a first assigned frequency band, eg, the forward link 108b of the satellite communication band.

In one embodiment, the forward transmission may be received as a multicast transmission on the vehicle 102x (block 222). Multicast transmission may include content to be delivered to device 118 and instructions or identifiers for target device 118 or receiving device 118. In one embodiment, the content and instructions of the target device 118 may be multiplexed with other content in the multicast transmission, where the other content is either to the target device 118 or to the vehicle 102. It is intended to be delivered to other target devices mounted on. For a particular vehicle 102x, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 may recover the content and instructions of the content target device 118, which recovery may be after multiplexing the multicast transmission or from forward transmission. It is done after using some other suitable technique for withdrawal.

Based on the instructions of the device 118 included in the forward transmission, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 may determine whether the device 118 to which the content is to be delivered is currently mounted on the vehicle 102x. .. If it is determined that the device to which the content is to be delivered is not mounted on the vehicle 102x, further processing for the received forward transmission may not be performed. If it is determined that the device to which the content is to be delivered is mounted on the vehicle 102x (eg, device 118), method 220 is one in which the received transmission content is contained within the vehicle 102x. It may include a step that causes transmission to the receiving device or the target device 118 via the above communication network (block 225). For example, if device 118 is a portable computing device connected to a Wi-Fi network mounted on a vehicle 102x, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 may include content in an 802.11-compatible transmission. And the hybrid transmission information collector 122 may cause its transmission to be delivered to the device 118 through the onboard Wi-Fi network. However, in addition to or as an alternative to this, other examples of onboard data delivery other than Wi-Fi are possible. In fact, the method 220 may use any means and / or technique of delivering the received content to the on-board device within the vehicle 102x, eg, they are co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 13 as described above. It is like any of the means and / or techniques described in / 675,200.

At block 228, feedback information may be triggered to be transmitted from the vehicle 102x. In one embodiment, the feedback information may be transmitted from the vehicle 102x, but this transmission is assigned differently than the frequency band supporting the forward link (block 222) at which the forward transmission is received. This is done by using a reverse link supported by the frequency band. For example, if the forward link (block 222) is the forward link 108b of the satellite communication link, the reverse link (block 228) to which the feedback information is transmitted is the ATG reverse link 110a or Wi-Fi link 110c. There may be. In one embodiment, the feedback information is included in a unicast transmission transmitted over a reverse link. For example, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 may cause the unicast transmission to be transmitted from the vehicle 102x via the selected return link 110.

As previously mentioned with respect to FIG. 2, the feedback information is information or data corresponding to the received forward transmission (block 222) or other received forward transmission, the forward transmission (block 222) is the vehicle 102x. It may include information or data corresponding to a forward link delivered to, information or data corresponding to another forward link, and / or information or data corresponding to one or more reverse links. For example, the feedback information may include reverse signal transmission information corresponding to forward transmission (block 222) received on the vehicle 102x through the forward link, for example, the feedback information may be a reception notification of forward transmission, or. It may include a notification that the expected content was not received in the forward transmission. Thus, in this example, the vehicle 102x may utilize a forward link in one frequency band as a forward data link or a net load delivery link, and a reverse link in another frequency band for forward data. It may be used as a signaling link corresponding to a link or a net load delivery link.

In one embodiment, the vehicle 102x may utilize a forward link (eg, the forward link of block 222) as a one-way communication link. For example, vehicle 102x may cause a transceiver or modem connected to a communication link, including a forward link, to operate in receive-only mode. The vehicle 102x may utilize the second communication link as a reverse link corresponding to a one-way forward link (eg, the reverse link of block 228). The vehicle 102x may utilize the second communication link as a unidirectional link (eg, by arranging a transceiver or modem connected to the second communication link in transmit-only mode), or the vehicle 102x may use the vehicle 102x. The second communication link may be used as a bidirectional link (eg, by allowing a transceiver or modem connected to the second communication link to be used in both receive and transmit modes. ).

It should be noted that the vehicle 102x uses the hybrid communication technology described herein, eg, forward and reverse links in different communication frequency bands, to transfer transmitted information to a device mounted on the vehicle and to the vehicle. A number of different configurations and different numbers of first and second communication links may be utilized to implement the technology delivered from the equipment mounted on the vehicle. For example, at least some of the techniques described herein are realized, but this realization uses one or more fully double (eg, bidirectional) communication links as logical forward links. By doing so, and using one or more other complete dual communication links supported by one or more frequency bands different from the frequency band of the logical forward link as the corresponding logical reverse link. It is done by doing. In another example, at least some of the techniques described herein are realized, but this realization is achieved by using one or more unidirectional communication links as logical forward links, and. It is made by using one or more other unidirectional communication links supported by one or more frequency bands different from the frequency band of the logical forward link as the corresponding logical reverse link. In yet another example, one or more complete dual communication links may be used as a logical forward link and are supported by one or more frequency bands that are different from the frequency band of the logical forward link. One or more unidirectional communication links to be made may be used as the corresponding logical reverse link. In yet another example, one or more unidirectional communication links may be used as a logical forward link, with one or more frequency bands different from the frequency band of the logical forward link. One or more complete dual communication links supported may be used as the corresponding logical reverse link.

At block 230, subsequent forward transmissions may be received by the vehicle 102x. Subsequent forward transmissions may include additional content to be delivered to device 118, or subsequent forward transmissions may be mounted on another device mounted on vehicle 102x, or on another vehicle 102. It may include content to be delivered to other devices. Subsequent forward transmissions may be received through one of a plurality of forward links to the vehicle 102x, and subsequent forward transmissions are received forward links previously transmitted from the vehicle 102x. (Block 228) It may have been selected based on feedback information and / or it may have been selected based on the type of additional content. Therefore, the forward link of the block 230 may be the same forward link of the block 222, or may be a different forward link.

The hybrid transmission information collector 122 may determine whether the device to which the content of the subsequent forward transmission is to be delivered is currently mounted on the vehicle 102x, which determination is, for example, block 225. May be done in the same way as discussed above. If it is determined that the device to which the content is to be delivered is not mounted on the vehicle 102x, further processing for subsequent transmissions may not be performed. If the device to which the content is to be delivered is mounted on the vehicle 102x (eg, device 118), method 220 is such that one or more of the received and subsequent transmission content is contained within the vehicle 102x. May include a step that causes transmission to the receiving device or target device 118 over the communication network of (block 232), which is the same method as discussed above for block 225, for example. You may go with.

In one embodiment, after block 232, method 220 may include a step that causes subsequent feedback information to be transmitted from the vehicle 102x (not shown). Subsequent feedback information includes subsequent forward transmissions, forward links (through this forward link, subsequent forward transmissions were delivered to vehicle 102x), other forward links, and / or 1. It may contain data or information corresponding to one or more reverse links. For example, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 may cause subsequent feedback information to be transmitted from the vehicle 102x, which transmission is hybrid transmission in the same manner as discussed for block 228. This is done by using a selected reverse link for delivery to the information distributor 104. In one embodiment, the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may then utilize subsequent feedback information to select the next forward link.

As with method 200, any part or all of method 220 may be performed while the vehicle 102x is in any state, which is the flight state or the vehicle 102x moving between ports. It is a state showing the dynamic motion of the vehicle 102x, such as a state showing that the vehicle is doing. Any part or all of the method 220 may be performed while the vehicle 102x is in any port state. Any part or all of the method 220 is stopped while the vehicle 102x is stationary (eg, while parked at the gate, docked at the port, or stopped at the guided runway. In the meantime), it may be executed.

In one embodiment, one or more of the techniques described above for delivering transmission information to a device being transported by a vehicle, for example, minimizes the use of one or more modems / transceivers in the vehicle. Therefore, the modem or transceiver in the vehicle may be adapted for efficient use. FIG. 4 shows an example of method 240 for efficient use of a modem or transceiver on a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method 240 is at least partially implemented by the hybrid communication system 100 of FIG. 1, but some or all of the method 240 may be implemented by a communication system other than the system 100. .. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the method 240 is performed on the vehicle, which is done by the onboard node 120 of the vehicle 102x, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 included in the onboard node 120, and the like. In one embodiment, method 240 may operate in connection with at least a portion of one or both of the methods described in FIGS. 2 and 3. For the sake of brevity, method 240 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 at the same time. However, it should be understood that this description is merely one of many embodiments and is non-limiting. In addition, method 240 is described in the context of one scenario example, not for limited purposes, but solely for the purpose of simplifying the discussion, in which the use of a modem or transceiver is a particular vehicle 102x. Optimized in.

In the United States and other jurisdictions, if the vehicle 102x is in a port state (eg, close to or closest to the port), the vehicle 102x was issued by the government, the port, and other regulatory authorities. It is required to comply with the constraints, and according to these constraints, the transceiver or modem mounted on the vehicle 102x is allowed to transmit. For example, aircraft transceivers or modems are not allowed to transmit through the satellite frequency band while the aircraft is parked at a gate or traveling on the ground at an airport. Therefore, to comply with regulations, the vehicle 102x can disable the transmission function of a modem or transceiver tuned to the satellite frequency band while the aircraft is parked at the gate or near the port.

However, there is usually no regulation as to whether the vehicle 102x's modem or transceiver is allowed to receive while the vehicle 102x is at or near the port. Therefore, while the vehicle 102x is parked at the gate, traveling on the ground, or in some other port state, the vehicle 102x is to receive data on the vehicle 102x (satellite). Forward bands of high bandwidth frequency bands (such as communication frequency bands or other frequency bands allocated for broadband communication) may be utilized. Therefore, the vehicle 102x may receive data by using a high speed one-way forward link in one frequency band, and the corresponding reverse communication link in a different frequency band. It may be used as a directional link. For example, while the vehicle 102x is in the port state, the forward link 108b of the higher speed satellite communication link may be utilized for higher speed data delivery to the vehicle 102x, and the lower speed ATG. The reverse link 110a or the Wi-Fi reverse link 110c may be used as the reverse link corresponding to the forward link 108b. The lower speed reverse link may be utilized by the vehicle 102x as a unidirectional reverse link (eg, the vehicle 102x is a modem or transceiver connected to the lower speed reverse link for transmission only. The slower speed reverse link may be utilized by the vehicle as a bidirectional link (eg, the vehicle 102x may cause the vehicle 102x to operate in a lower speed reverse link). It may cause the connected modem or transceiver to operate in transmit and receive modes). In one embodiment, the bandwidth or speed of the high speed forward link may be twice as large as that of the reverse link, and even three times larger, four times larger, five times larger, six times larger, 7 It may be twice as large or a multiple greater than seven.

Therefore, when the vehicle 102x is in the port state, use a high-speed one-way forward link (loading data onto the vehicle 102x through this one-way forward link) and the corresponding lower. The use of reverse speed links leverages the various capabilities of different communication links to reduce the time required to deliver electronic data onto the vehicle 102x at the vehicle port, while reducing the time required to deliver electronic data on the vehicle 102x. At the same time, it fully complies with transmission restrictions. Therefore, the use of different types of modems or transceivers on the vehicle 102x is optimized, resulting in shorter data delivery times and the possibility that the vehicle 102x can be prepared more quickly for subsequent travel processes. There is.

In consideration of the above, the method 240 may determine that the vehicle 102x is in the port state (block 242). In one embodiment, the onboard node 120 of the vehicle 102x or the hybrid transmission information collector 122 included in the onboard node 120 may determine that the vehicle 102x is in one of a plurality of port states. For example, receiving information from a GPS receiver, a sensor, or from some other computing device mounted on the vehicle 102x that is configured to monitor and determine the transport status of the vehicle 102x. It is done by.

At block 245, a first communication link for delivering data on the vehicle 102x may be established, for example, in a first modem fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x and tuned to the first frequency band. .. In one embodiment, the first communication link is a first wireless communication link. For example, after the vehicle 102x is determined to be in the port state (block 242), the on-board node 120 or hybrid transmission information collector 122 may ensure that the first modem is in the receive-only state, and one. A first modem may be used to establish the directional forward link 108, but this establishment uses a port transceiver or modem provided at the port and outside the vehicle 102x and the first frequency band. May be done through. In one embodiment, the one-way forward link 108 supports a broadband protocol, such as a satellite communication protocol or other broadband protocol. In addition, the port transceiver or modem at the port end of the unidirectional forward link 108 communicates with the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 in the data center 105, for example, via the vehicle data delivery network 106. It may be connected if possible. Therefore, the radio unidirectional forward link 108 is from the data center 105 (or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 in the data center 105) to the vehicle 102x, the onboard node 120, while the device 118 is being transported by the vehicle 102x. A hybrid transmission information collector 122, a receiving device mounted on a vehicle (eg, device 118), or a vehicle driving application (VTA) installed on device 118 and specifically configured to support service. At least a portion of the logical forward link may be supported. In one embodiment, the logical forward data link may be a forward link in a data tunnel. (The data tunnel will be explained more sufficiently in relation to FIG. 6).

In block 248, the second communication link can be established in the second modem, which is fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x and adjusted to a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. Will be done. In one embodiment, the second communication link may be a second wireless communication link. The second communication link may be a one-way (transmission-only) reverse link, or the second communication link may be a bidirectional link, including a reverse link. For example, after the vehicle 102x is determined to be in the port state (block 242), the onboard node 120 or the hybrid transmission information collector 122 may use a second modem to establish a second communication link. However, this establishment is done through the second frequency band using another port transceiver or modem provided at the port and outside the vehicle 102x. In one embodiment, the second port transceiver or modem is communicably connected to the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 in the data center, for example, via a vehicle data delivery network 106. Therefore, the reverse communication link 110 is a hybrid transmission information distributor 104 to or in the data center 105 from the vehicle 102x, the on-board node 120, the hybrid transmission information collector 122, the device 118, or the VTA on the device 118. It may support at least a portion of the logical reverse link to. In one embodiment, the logical reverse data link may be the reverse link of the data tunnel, where the data tunnel includes a logical forward data tunnel link.

At block 250, method 240 may include the step of using the first communication link as a forward link, through which data is received on the vehicle 102x while the vehicle 102x is in the port state. It is possible. The data may include content to be delivered to the device mounted on the vehicle. In one embodiment, the device to which the content is to be delivered may be an on-board data storage device fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x. In one scenario, the received data may include entertainment media content that should be delivered for storage in the on-board entertainment storage database or entertainment storage data device, and in another scenario, it is received. The data may include updated maps or charts to be delivered to the navigation system mounted on the vehicle 102x. In one embodiment, the data received on the vehicle 102x via the one-way forward link may include multiplexed content data, which content data may be a plurality of devices mounted on the vehicle 102x. Will be delivered to each. In this embodiment, the on-board node 120 or the hybrid transmission information collector 122 of the on-board node 120 may multiplex the received, multiplexed transmission. In one embodiment, the received data may include content that should be delivered only to a particular portable computing device. In one embodiment, the received content may be delivered to the destination port of the vehicle 102x by the vehicle data delivery system 106 or other network while the vehicle 102x is on its way to the destination port. However, this may be done by using one or more of the techniques described in the co-pending US Patent Application No. 13 / 675,190 entitled "Ground System for Vehicle Data Distribution" described above.

In some cases, data may be received on the vehicle 102x over a one-way communication link in a multicast transmission. For example, if a vehicle arrives at a particular port, the service provider may wish to update the onboard entertainment offering for all of the vehicles in the set. The service provider may use multicast transmission over a high bandwidth forward link to deliver the updated onboard entertainment content to all of the set of vehicles parked on the port. In another example, significant software updates may be required to be delivered to a particular LRU on board the vehicle. Software updates may be multicast to all vehicles parked at the port and containing a particular LRU using high speed forward links. In one embodiment, the multicast transmission received by the vehicle 102x through the one-way communication link may include instructions from the receiving device, and the on-board node 120 or hybrid transmission information collector 122 may include the receiving device. It may be determined whether or not it is mounted on the vehicle 102x. If the receiving device is not mounted on the vehicle 102x, the multicast transmission may be truncated or otherwise ignored.

In one embodiment, if it is determined that the receiving device is mounted on the vehicle 102x, the method 240 accommodates data received via the first one-way communication link, eg, in the vehicle 102x. It may include a step that causes delivery to the receiving device via one or more communication networks. For example, Method 240 may utilize any of the on-board data delivery techniques described in the simultaneous pending US Patent Application No. 13 / 675,200.

At block 252, method 250 may include the step of using the second communication link as the reverse link corresponding to the forward link, while the vehicle 102x is in one of the plurality of port states. Feedback data or second data can be transmitted from the vehicle 102x through the communication link. For example, the receipt notification of the received data may be signaled over the reverse link, or any other suitable reverse signal transmission corresponding to the received data (block 250) is reverse. It may be transmitted via a directional link (block 252). In one embodiment, the bandwidth or speed of the first communication link may be twice as large as that of the second communication link, and even three times larger, four times larger, five times larger, six times larger, 7 It may be twice as large or a multiple greater than seven.

FIG. 5 shows an example of method 260 for optimizing the use of a modem or transceiver on a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method 260 is at least partially implemented by the hybrid communication system 100 of FIG. 1, but some or all of the method 260 may be implemented by a communication system other than the system 100. .. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the method 240 is performed by the data center 105 or by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 contained within the data center 105. In one embodiment, the method 260 may operate in connection with at least a portion of one or more of the methods described in FIGS. 2-4. For the sake of brevity, Method 260 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 at the same time. However, it should be understood that this description is merely one of many embodiments and is non-limiting. In addition, method 260 is described below in the context of one scenario example, not for limited purposes, but solely for the purpose of simplifying the discussion, in which the use of a modem or transceiver is multiple. Optimized for a particular vehicle 102x within the vehicle 102.

At block 262, it may be determined that the vehicle 102x is in one of a plurality of port states. For example, the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 in the data center 105 may determine that the vehicle is in one port state, but this determination indicates the state of the vehicle in another computing. It may be done by receiving from a device, sensor, or data source.

At block 265, a data communication tunnel may be established between the data center 105 and the vehicle 102x. For example, the data communication tunnel may include a first end that is not mounted on the vehicle 102x, which may be the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 in the data center. The data communication tunnel may include a second end mounted on the vehicle 102x. The end of the data communication tunnel mounted on the vehicle 102x may be, for example, a VTA running on the vehicle 102x mounting node 120, the hybrid transmission information collector 122, the device 118, or the device 118.

A block diagram of an example of a data communication tunnel 600 is provided in FIG. 6, wherein the data communication tunnel 600 may be established by method 260, or else in the hybrid communication system 100, or another hybrid. It may be established in a communication system. As used herein, the terms "data communication tunnel", "data tunnel", and "tunnel" are used interchangeably to refer to an encapsulated transmission path or logical connection. However, the transmission path or logical connection encapsulated here is a path or connection between a node or data center 602 outside the vehicle 102x and a node 604 mounted on the vehicle 102x. In some cases, the data communication tunnel 600 may be an encapsulated transmission path or logical connection with a first endpoint outside the vehicle 102x. For example, the first endpoint of the data tunnel may be the data center 602 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 606 in the data center 602. In one embodiment, the hybrid transmission information distributor 606 may be the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 of FIG.

The data communication tunnel 600 may have a second endpoint mounted and placed on the vehicle 102x. For example, the second endpoint of the data tunnel 600 may be the onboard node 604, or an application 608 running on the onboard node 604, such as the hybrid transmission information collector 122 running on the onboard node 120. You may. In some cases, the second endpoint of the data tunnel 600 may be the receiving device 118, or may be a VTA or other application running on the receiving device 118.

The data tunnel 600 may be realized in one embodiment by utilizing a tunneling protocol between two endpoints. Packets or transmissions of the tunneling protocol may be encapsulated within packets or transmissions of other protocols used by communication links that support tunnel 600. As an example, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 simultaneously, the example data tunnel between the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 and the device 118 mounted on the vehicle 102x is a data tunnel forward link using the data tunnel protocol. 610 may be included. The forward packet of the data tunnel protocol may be encapsulated by each of the respective protocols used by the various forward links supporting the data tunnel forward link 610, where the respective protocol is. For example, the respective protocols used by the vehicle data delivery network 106, the selected forward link 108, and the Wi-Fi forward link in the cabin of the vehicle 102x. Similarly, the data tunnel reverse link 612 between the hybrid tunneling information distributor 104 and the device 118 is a Wi-Fi reverse link in the cabin of the vehicle 102x, a selected reverse link 110, and a vehicle data delivery network. It may be supported by 106, for example, each protocol utilized on these variously supported reverse links encapsulates a data tunnel protocol packet in the reverse direction.

In embodiments where the data tunnel 600 is included in the hybrid communication system 100, the data tunnel forward link 610 differs from one or more communication links that support the data tunnel reverse link 612 in the protocol and / or frequency band. It may be supported by one or more communication links. In addition, the data tunnel forward link 610 and the data tunnel reverse link 612 may differ (eg, multicast or unicast) in the message delivery schemes they each support, and / or are used and supported. The number of communication links may differ (eg, multiple supported communication links in the data tunnel forward link 610 and one supported communication link in the data tunnel reverse link 612). Nevertheless, in one embodiment, the data tunnel 600 between the data center 602 and the onboard node 604 is, in some cases, one logical data tunnel forward link 610 or data forward. A stream and one logical data tunnel Reverse Link 612, or logically represented as having a reverse stream of data (eg, in a software application).

The data transmitted to the on-board node 604 on the forward data 614 or the data tunnel forward link 610 may include, for example: (I) Content 618 for delivery to one or more onboard receiving devices that are communicably connected to the onboard node 604. Here, the content 618 is a text message, a web page, media content, streaming data, a response to a previous request received by the on-board user interface, data to be presented on the on-board user interface, an application, a configuration, and the like. It may contain any type of data, such as other software that the user of the onboard device has requested to download. (Ii) Signal transmission information 616 corresponding to content 618 and corresponding to delivery of content 618 through the data tunnel 600. (Iii) Device information 620a that identifies the on-board receiving device or the device to which the content 618 should be delivered. And / or (iv) other forward signaling information 616 corresponding to the use of the data tunnel 600 itself (eg, availability, quality of transmission, bandwidth management, etc.).

The data transmitted to the data center 602 on the reverse data 622 or the data tunnel reverse link 612 may include, for example: (I) Feedback information 624 corresponding to the delivered content 618 and / or to the use of the data tunnel 600 (eg, availability, quality of transmission, bandwidth management, etc.). (Ii) Content request 626 from the on-board device. Here, the content request 626 is generated by the user of the on-board device or by the on-board device itself. And / or device information 620b that identifies the on-board device that generates (iii) content request 626.

Although some specific examples of forward data 614 and reverse data 622 are discussed above, data tunnel forward link 610 and data tunnel reverse link 612 are any desired between the endpoints of the tunnel 600. It should be understood that type of data may be carried. In addition, as is clear, the forward data 614 is separated, integrated and multiplexed into any number of data structures, packets, or messages, for example for efficiency and timeliness (timeline). It may be converted or combined. Similarly, the reverse data 622 may be separated, integrated, multiplexed, or combined into any number of data structures, packets, or messages in addition to or instead of the above. Further, in one embodiment, a plurality of data tunnels may be established between two endpoints. For example, a data center 602 or a hybrid transmission information distributor 606 included therein may establish multiple data communication tunnels with a node 604 on a particular vehicle 102x and / or on a plurality of vehicles 102. Multiple data communication tunnels may be established with multiple nodes.

Now, returning to block 265 of method 260, the established data communication tunnel has a data tunnel forward link and a data tunnel reverse link (eg, forward link 610 and reverse link 612 described with respect to FIG. 6). It may be included. The data tunnel forward link 610 may be supported by a forward communication link 108 fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x and connected to a first modem operating in receive-only mode. Therefore, the data tunnel forward link 610 may be supported by the one-way forward communication link 108. The data tunnel reverse link 612 may be supported by a reverse communication link 110 connected to a second modem fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x. The second modem may operate in transmit-only mode, or may operate in both transmit and receive modes. The first and second modems are tuned to different frequency bands, resulting in forward link 108 (supporting data tunnel forward link 610) and reverse link 110 (supporting data tunnel reverse link 612). Are themselves supported by different frequency bands and different protocols.

When it is determined that the vehicle is in the port state (block 262), it is caused that forward data is delivered from the endpoint of the data tunnel outside the vehicle 102x to the endpoint of the data tunnel mounted on the vehicle 102x. It may be (block 268). For example, forward data is delivered from the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 to one of the applications running on the on-board node 120, the hybrid transmission information collector 122, the target-mounted device, or the target-mounted device. May be triggered. The forward data delivered may include, for example, any or all types of forward data 614.

If the vehicle is determined to be in the port state (block 262), reverse feedback information or data is delivered from the endpoint of the data tunnel mounted on the vehicle 102x to the endpoint of the data tunnel outside the vehicle 102x. May be triggered (block 268). For example, reverse data can be from the data center 105 or hybrid transmission information from one of the applications (eg, VTA) running on the onboard node 120, hybrid transmission information collector 122, target onboard device 118, or target onboard device. It may be triggered to be delivered to the distributor 104. The reverse data delivered may include, for example, any or all types of reverse data 622.

FIG. 7 shows an example of method 280 for delivering content to a device mounted on a vehicle in a distributed or hybrid manner. In one embodiment, method 280 is at least partially implemented by the hybrid communication system 100 of FIG. 1, but some or all of method 280 may be implemented by a communication system other than system 100. .. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the method 280 is performed by the data center 105 or by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 contained within the data center 105. In one embodiment, method 280 may operate in connection with at least one or more portions of the methods described in FIGS. 2-5 and / or in connection with the data tunnel 600 of FIG. .. For the sake of brevity, method 280 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1-6 at the same time. However, it should be understood that this description is merely one of many embodiments and is non-limiting. In addition, method 280 is described below in the context of one scenario example, not for limited purposes, but solely for the purpose of simplifying the discussion, in which the data identifies multiple vehicles 102. It is to be delivered to the device 118 mounted on the vehicle 102x.

At block 282, content to be delivered to device 118 being transported by vehicle 102x may be acquired. For example, the content to be delivered to device 118 may be acquired by the data center 105 or by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 of the data center 105, which may be, for example, external network 132, vehicle data delivery network 106. , Or by receiving from other suitable sources, or by retrieving content from the data center 105 itself, or from some other data storage entity. The device 118 to which the content should be delivered may be any device previously discussed with respect to FIGS. 1-6, which device is, for example, a portable device temporarily transported by vehicle 102x. It may be a computing device or a computing device fixedly connected to the vehicle 102x. Similarly, the content to be delivered to device 118 may be any type of content previously discussed with respect to FIGS. 1-6, which may be, for example, a web page, streaming data. , Text messages, responses to previous requests, etc. However, with respect to method 280, the content to be delivered to device 118 should be delivered to device 118 as a whole, which content may be, for example, an entire web page, streaming video or movie. In one embodiment, the acquired content should be delivered to the device 118 as a whole for being presented as a whole in the user interface of the device 118.

At block 285, the first portion of the acquired data may be included in the first transmission, causing the first transmission to be transmitted to the vehicle 102x via the first forward link. May be good. At block 288, a second portion of the acquired data may be included in the second transmission, causing the second transmission to be transmitted to the vehicle 102x via the second forward link. May be good. The first forward link and the second forward link may each be supported by different communication links on different frequency bands, so that the first and second transmissions each use a different protocol. It may be formatted. For example, the first part of the acquired data may be triggered to be transmitted through the satellite forward link 108b to the vehicle 102x, and the second part of the acquired data may be caused through the ATG forward link 108a. , May be triggered to be transmitted to the vehicle 102x. In one embodiment, the bandwidth or speed of the first forward link may be twice as large as that of the second forward link, and even three times larger, four times larger, five times larger, six times larger. , 7 times larger, or a multiple greater than 7.

In some embodiments of Method 280, at least one of the contents of the first part of the acquired data or at least one of the contents of the second part of the acquired data may be selected. In one embodiment, the content of the first part or the second part may be selected based on the content type. For example, if the acquired content is a web page that should be displayed on the screen of target device 118 for optimal user experience, the user wants to see some progress regarding the loading of the web page. Therefore, important elements of a web page (eg, CSS, HTML, Java® script, and other structural elements) are driven by a faster forward link (eg, ATG forward link 108a) to vehicle 102x. It may be selected to be delivered to, and as a result, these key elements begin to establish the framework of the web page and to indicate to the user that some progress is taking place, device 118. May be received as soon as possible. On the other hand, larger sized elements of a web page (eg, images, videos, flashes, etc.) may arrive at the user device after the important elements and are within the already established web page framework. May be inserted into. These larger factors are not temporally important to the user experience, but nevertheless require higher bandwidth due to their size and density, and are therefore more of these. Larger elements may be selected to be delivered to the vehicle 102x by a high bandwidth forward link (eg, satellite forward link 108b).

In general, the more time-sensitive parts of the acquired content (eg, the parts that require a lower round trip delay time) are delivered through a faster forward link (compared to other available forward links 108). It may be selected as much as possible. Also, in the acquired content, higher density or larger parts are selected to be delivered through higher capacity forward links (compared to other available forward links 108). You may. And even if the portion of content obtained that requires a greater degree of accuracy is selected to be delivered through a more robust forward link (compared to other available forward links 108). good. In certain situations, a particular content type may be exclusively assigned to one particular type of forward link for delivery, and if the primary forward link is not available, the particular content. The type may optionally be assigned to the forward link of the backup type. In certain situations, a particular content type may be optionally assigned to multiple types of forward links, with the highest priority available forward links. Selected for delivery of certain content types.

In yet another example, within a given forward link, certain types of data may be given higher priority than other types of data. For example, in a satellite forward link, overflow data from the ATG forward link may be given a higher priority than the data originally associated with the satellite forward link, because it overflows. This is because ATG traffic can generally have a greater temporal impact than satellite traffic.

In some embodiments of Method 280, the particular forward link is still another criterion, such as the dynamic properties or states of one or more forward links, or the properties of the acquired content as a whole. May be selected for a particular type of content data based on. For example, if the content acquired is streaming video, the streaming media-encoded image frame (eg, I-frame) is assigned or selected to be delivered through the ATG forward link 108a. on the other hand, the corresponding streaming media predicted frames (e.g., P-frame, B-frame) is to be delivered through K _a satellite frequency band is assigned, or is selected. However, the bandwidth allocated to any particular stream in the K _a band may be defined upper limit to a certain level. If the streaming media content reaches the upper limit of the K _a band, the stream ensuing predictive frame, another forward link (eg, L satellite frequency band) through, it may be delivered. In another example, certain types of content data are assigned or selected for delivery through the ATG forward link 108a. And if the ATG forward link is in a predefined capacity, a particular type of content data overflow is allocated or selected to be delivered through the satellite forward link 108b. In another example, any data stream larger than a certain size may be automatically associated to be delivered in a distributed manner through all available satellite forward links.

In one embodiment, the selection of a particular forward link may be based, at least in part, on feedback data or information received from the vehicle 102x. The feedback information or data may indicate the current quality, capacity, or availability of one or more forward links, as previously described with respect to FIGS. 2-5. In one embodiment, the data center 105 or hybrid transmission information distributor 104 may receive feedback data or information via a reverse link and is at least partially based on the received feedback information or data. , A subsequent forward link may be selected for transmission of a particular portion of the retrieved content.

Thus, as illustrated by example, parts of content data may be associated with various forward links based on many levels of subdivision and distinction criteria. For example, as previously shown, mapping different parts of content data to different forward links may be based on the content type. The mapping may be based on, in addition to or instead of the above, the type of application to which the acquired content should be delivered, and / or based on the stream size in which the acquired content is contained. Further, in addition to or instead of the above, mapping a portion of the acquired content to various forward links is, for example, a socket type or socket availability, paid by the user of the receiving device. Alternatively, it may be based on the level of service assigned to the user of the receiving device, the quality and / or availability of various forward links, dynamic resource allocation algorithms, and so on. Further, in addition to or instead of the above, mapping the acquired pieces of content to various forward links may be performed at different levels. The different levels here are, for example, application level, packet level, stream level, geographic location based level, user account characteristic level, or level of service acquired by the user.

In one embodiment, mapping a given content type to a given forward link is a priori determined and the mapping is accessible to the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104. Stored in a priori file or other data storage entity. In some embodiments, a particular forward link may be selected for a particular type of data content based on a deductive mapping. In one embodiment, the association between the content portion and the forward link may be configurable.

Further with respect to method 280, as with each of methods 200, 220, 240 and 260, any of the forward transmissions through any of the forward links 108 should be delivered to device 118 and / or on vehicle 102. May include multiplexed content or pieces of content that should be delivered to other devices being transported in. Similarly, each of the methods 200, 220, 240, 260 and 280 may optionally multicast any forward transmission through any forward link 108.

FIG. 8 shows an example of method 300 for delivering content in a distributed manner to devices being transported by vehicle. In one embodiment, the method 300 is at least partially implemented by the hybrid communication system 100 of FIG. 1, but some or all of the method 300 may be implemented by a communication system other than the system 100. .. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the method 300 is by the on-board node 120 in the vehicle 102x, by the hybrid transmission information collector 122 included in the on-board node 120, by the receiving device 118, or by the receiving device 118, such as a VTA. It may be executed by the application executed above. In one embodiment, the method 300 operates in connection with at least a portion of one or more of the methods described in FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7 and / or in connection with the data tunnel 600 of FIG. May be good. For the sake of brevity, method 300 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1-7 at the same time. However, it should be understood that this description is merely one of many embodiments and is non-limiting. In addition, method 300 is described below in the context of one scenario example, not for limited purposes, but solely for the purpose of simplifying the discussion, in which the data identifies a plurality of vehicles 102. It is to be delivered to the device 118 mounted on the vehicle 102x.

At block 302, the first transmission, including the first portion of content to be received, is received by the on-board device 118 as a whole on the vehicle 102x. For example, an application (eg, VTA) on the onboard node 120, hybrid transmission information collector 122, device 118 or device 118 receives the first part of the content. In one embodiment, the content to be received by the device 118 as a whole should be presented as a whole in the user interface of the device 118. For example, in the user interface of device 118, the content that should be presented as a whole is a web page, streaming video, a response to a request from a user of device 118, or as previously discussed with respect to FIGS. It may be any other type of content to be delivered to device 118. The first part of the content is received on the vehicle 102x via a first modem connected to a first forward link (eg, one of the forward links 108) supported by the first radio frequency band. May be good. Then, the first part of the content may be received in connection with the instruction of the device 118 to which the first part of the content should be delivered.

At block 305, the on-board device 118 as a whole receives the second transmission, including the second portion of the content to be received, on the vehicle 102x. For example, an application (eg, VTA) on the onboard node 120, hybrid transmission information collector 122, device 118 or device 118 receives a second part of the content. The second part of the content is connected to a second forward link supported by a second radio frequency band that is different from the first radio frequency band (eg, a forward link separate from the set of forward links 108). It may be received on the vehicle 102x via a second modem. The second part of the content may be received in connection with the instruction of the device 118 to which the second part of the content should be delivered.

In one embodiment, the first forward link, the second forward link, the first part of the content, and / or the second part of the content may be selected. For example, the first forward link, the second forward link, the first part of the content. And / or a second part of the content may be selected by the data center 105 or by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104, but this selection is a forward link as previously described with respect to FIG. And / or based on the criteria for the selection of the content portion, or on the basis of other criteria.

In one embodiment, based on the instructions of the device 118 included in the first forward transmission, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 has a device 118 to which the first part of the content is to be delivered, which is currently mounted on the vehicle 102x. You may decide whether or not it is. If it is determined that the device to which the first part of the content is to be delivered is not mounted on the vehicle 102x, further processing relating to the first forward transmission may not be performed on the vehicle 102x. If it is determined that the device on which the first portion of the content is to be delivered is mounted on the vehicle 102x (eg, device 118), the method 300 will use method 300 where the content of the first received transmission is the vehicle 102x. It may include a step that causes transmission to the receiving device or target device 118 via one or more communication networks housed therein (block 308). For example, if device 118 is a portable computing device connected to a Wi-Fi network mounted on a vehicle 102x, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 will make the first part of the content 802.11 compatible. It may be included in the transmission and the hybrid transmission information collector 122 may cause the transmission to be delivered to the device 118 through the onboard Wi-Fi network. However, in addition to or instead of the above, other examples of onboard data delivery other than Wi-Fi are possible. In fact, Method 300 may use any means and / or technique for delivering the received content to the on-board device, which are described in the co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 675,200. It is like any of the means and / or techniques described in.

With respect to the second forward transmission, in one embodiment, based on the instructions of the device 118 included in the second forward transmission, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 is such that the device 118 to which the second part of the content is to be delivered. It may be determined whether or not it is currently mounted on the vehicle 102x. If it is determined that the device to which the second part of the content is to be delivered is not mounted on the vehicle 102x, further processing relating to the second forward transmission may not be performed on the vehicle 102x. If it is determined that the device to which the second part of the content is to be delivered is mounted on the vehicle 102x (eg, device 118), the method 300 will have the content of the second received transmission in the vehicle 102x. It may include a step that causes transmission to a receiving device or a target device 118 via one or more communication networks housed in (block 310). For example, if the device 118 is a portable computing device connected to a Wi-Fi network mounted on the vehicle 102x, the hybrid transmission information collector 122 is a second part of the content for 802.11 compatible transmission. And the hybrid transmission information collector 122 may cause its transmission to be delivered to device 118 through the onboard Wi-Fi network. However, in addition to or instead of the above, other examples of onboard data delivery other than Wi-Fi are also possible. In fact, Method 300 may use any means and / or technique for delivering the received content to the on-board device, which are described in the simultaneous pending US Patent Application No. 13 / 675,200. Something like any of the described means and / or techniques.

In one embodiment, the first external forward link 108 to which the device 118 is connected and the forward link of the onboard communication network (eg, onboard Wi-Fi network or other suitable network) are (or by) the data center 105. It supports a first data communication tunnel established (by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 included in the data center 105). For example, the first forward link to device 118 and the forward link of the onboard Wi-Fi network support a first data tunnel forward link similar to the data tunnel forward link 610 of FIG. One portion is delivered to device 118 using the first data tunnel forward link.

In one embodiment, the second external forward link 108 and the onboard forward link (eg, onboard Wi-Fi network or other suitable network) to which the device 118 is connected are by (or data center 105) the data center 105. Supports a second data communication tunnel established (by the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 included in), but the data center 105 is different from and away from the first data communication tunnel. For example, the second external forward link 108 and the second mounting forward link to device 118 support the second data tunnel forward link 610, and the second part of the content is the second data tunnel forward link. Used to deliver to device 118. In this embodiment, the device 118 or the application in the device 118 (eg, VTA) can assemble the first and second parts and form the content in the device 118 as a whole, in some cases over time. .. For example, the device 118 or the application in device 118 first receives the first part of the content and initiates to present the first part of the content in the user interface of the device. If the second part of the content is received, the device 118 or the application in the device 118 may add the second part of the content to the presented first part, so that the content as a whole is of the device. Presented in the user interface.

In one embodiment, device 118 (or an application above it) serves as a mounting endpoint for two established data tunnels to a data center 105, rather than serving as a mounting endpoint for mounting device 120 or mounting device 120. The vessel 122 serves as a mounting endpoint for two established data tunnels to the data center 105, where one of the two established data tunnels provides the first portion of content to be delivered to device 118. Deliver and the other one of the two established data tunnels delivers the second part of the content). In this embodiment, the on-board device 120 or the hybrid transmission information collector 122 collects and assembles the content as a whole, rather than the device 118 (or the application on the device 118) collecting and assembling the content as a whole. Assembled and caused the assembled content to be delivered to device 118, for example, via an onboard communication network.

In one embodiment, the application on the on-board node 120, hybrid transmission information collector 122, device 118, or device 118 is such that feedback information or data is transmitted from the vehicle 102x to the data center 105 via the reverse link 110. May cause that. The feedback information or data may correspond, for example, to the first part of the content received and / or to the second part of the content received. In one embodiment, the feedback information or data is, for example, the current quality, capacity of one or more forward links and / or one or more reverse links, as previously described with respect to FIGS. 2-7. , Or may indicate availability.

Therefore, as discussed above, a hybrid communication system such as the example of the hybrid communication system 100 can transmit data and information to a device mounted on a vehicle by using forward and reverse links. However, each of the forward link and the reverse direction may be supported by different frequency bands, and each of the forward link and the reverse direction may utilize a different communication protocol. The forward link may differ in frequency band, hardware configuration, protocol, frequency band, etc. as compared to the reverse link corresponding to the reverse direction. In one embodiment, the bandwidth and / or speed of the forward link may be greater than (and, in some cases, significantly larger) than the bandwidth and / or speed of the reverse link, as a result. , Frequency resources and modem resources can be effectively used, and data delivery time can be reduced. In one embodiment, the forward transmission may be multiplexed and / or multicast. The choice of forward link for subsequent transmission may be based on the feedback information received over the reverse link and, in some cases, on the type of content to be delivered. .. In one embodiment, a hybrid communication system, such as the example of the hybrid communication system 100, utilizes a plurality of different forward links to deliver content as a whole between a vehicle-mounted device and a data center. You may. The selection of parts of the content and / or the selection of multiple forward links may be based on the content type and optionally other criteria.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an on-board system 500 in a vehicle 502, where the on-board system 500 receives information or data on the vehicle 502 (eg, a data center, a hybrid transmission information distributor 104, or other suitable). The information or data provided by the information distributor), and the on-board system 500 may cause the feedback information to be delivered from the vehicle 502 to, for example, the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104. Further, the onboard system 500 is that the data is delivered to and / or received from one or more devices 504 being transported by vehicle 502. May cause. In one embodiment, the vehicle 502 is a vehicle 102x and one or more devices 504 is one of the devices 118.

An example of an onboard system 500 includes an onboard node 506, such as an auxiliary computer power unit (ACPU), where the onboard node 506 is via one or more antennas 508 and one or more modems or transceivers 510. It may be a computing device communicably connected to one or more external communication links. In one embodiment, the on-board node 506 may be the on-board node 120 and may include the case of the hybrid transmission information collector 122, which is represented in FIG. 9 by block 507.

Each of the one or more antennas 508, radio communication (e.g., K _a band, L-band, K _u band, WiMAX band, Wi-Fi bandwidth, land mobile bands or any other suitable radio frequency band) The signal may be received and transmitted via the different frequency bands assigned to. Each of the antennas 508 may be communicably connected to an associated modem or transceiver 510 that is fixedly connected to the vehicle 502 and, in practice, the information corresponding to the signal at each antenna 508. And are configured to encode and decode the data. One or more modems or transceivers 510 can be TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), GSM (Pan-European Digital Mobile Communication System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution) Communications, WiMAX, and / or other. Each modem or transceiver compatible with any terrestrial mobile communication technology may be included. In some embodiments, the one or more modems 510 may include their respective modems or transceivers that are compatible with EVDO (Evolution Data Optimization) or Wi-Fi communication technology. However, as is clear, the onboard system 500 includes any number of antennas 508 and any different number of associated modems or transceivers 510 to support any desired number of different radio communication technologies. It may be included.

In addition, if the vehicle 502 is an aircraft, the cockpit electronics node 512 may be communicably coupled with one or more modems 510. The cockpit electronics node 510 may be, for example, an LRU configured to collect electronic information from various precision instruments in the cockpit of an aircraft during flight. In some cases, the cockpit electronic equipment node 510 provides the hybrid transmission information acquirer 507, onboard node 506 with collected flight information such as altitude, flight speed, aircraft position, or other flight condition information. It may be provided directly to the vehicle data distribution network 106, for example via a designated return link.

At least some of the devices 504 may be portable computing devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants, e-readers, etc., which may include one or more wireless access points 514. It is possible to establish a wirelessly communicable connection with the hybrid transmission information acquirer 507 via (eg, via a wireless network interface). Some of the devices 504 may be wired computing devices, which are communicably connected to the on-board node 506 via a wired network 516.

In some implementation examples, one or more devices 504 is an on-board data storage entity 518, which on-board data storage entity 518 may be distributed to various other devices 504 and / or other variations. Various types of data that may be received from the device 504 may be stored, where the various types of data are, for example, entertainment content, web pages, account information, usage data, installed. Applications that may identify device 504, payment information (eg, encrypted financial account information), digital copyright management (DRM) keys, and / or at least temporarily mounted on vehicle 502. And any other data that you want to store.

In one embodiment, each of the devices 504 may include an instance of a vehicle driving application (VTA), which is installed on the device 504 and while the device 504 is being transported by the vehicle 504. (Eg, when the vehicle 504 is moving halfway between the ports), it may be specifically configured to support the service. For example, the vehicle travel application may be configured to serve as a mounting end of a data tunnel established with the data center 105 or the hybrid transmission information distributor 104 in the data center. In one embodiment, the vehicle travel application may communicate with other applications installed on a particular device 504 (eg, the original ground application) so that the device 504 is transported by the vehicle 502. In the meantime, other applications may work as desired (eg, in their original way).

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an example of a computing device 550 that may be used in the hybrid communication system 100. For example, one or more computing devices 550 may be specifically configured to be utilized as at least part of a data center 105, vehicle data delivery network 106, onboard node 120, or device 118. In addition, other devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, such as the cockpit electronics node 512, may include one embodiment of the computing device 550.

The computing device 550 may include, for example, one or more central processing units (CPUs) or processors 552, and one or more buses or hubs 553, where one or more buses or hubs 553 are processors. The 552 is connected to other elements of the computing device 550, such as the volatile memory 554, the non-volatile memory 555, the display controller 556, and the I / O controller 557. Volatile memory 554 and non-volatile memory 555, respectively, include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, biological memory, hard disk drive, digital versatile disk (DVD) disk drive, and the like. It may include one or more non-temporary, tangible, computer-readable storage media such as.

In one embodiment, memory 554 and / or memory 555 may store instructions 558 that can be executed by processor 552. For example, in a computing device specifically configured to be included in a data center 105, the instruction 558 may be an instruction comprising a hybrid transmission information distributor 104. In another example, in a computing device 550 specifically configured to be an onboard node 120, the instruction 558 may be an instruction comprising a hybrid transmission information collector 122. In yet another example, in a computing device 550 specifically configured to be device 118, the instruction 558 may be a vehicle travel application (VTA). In fact, each of the modules, applications and engines described herein can accommodate a different set of machine-readable instructions to perform one or more of the functions described above. be. These modules do not need to be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and therefore various subsets of these modules are combined or otherwise re-in various embodiments. It is possible to be arranged. In some embodiments, at least one of memory 554, memory 555 stores one subset of modules and data structures identified herein. In another embodiment, at least one memory 554, memory 555, stores additional modules and data structures not described herein.

In one embodiment, the display controller 556 may communicate with the processor 552, thereby causing information to be presented on the connected display device 559. In one embodiment, the I / O controller 557 may communicate with processor 552, thereby transferring information and commands to or from user interface 560, where user interface 560. May include a mouse, keyboard or keypad, touchpad, clickwheel, rays, speaker, microphone, and the like. In one embodiment, the display device 559 and at least a portion of the user interface 560 are coupled to a single, integrated device (eg, a touch screen). In addition, the data or information may be transferred to and from the computing device 550 via the network interface 570. In some embodiments, the computing device 550 may include a plurality of network interfaces 570, such as wireless and wired interfaces.

The illustrated computing device 550 is merely an example of a computing device specifically configured for use in the hybrid communication system 100. Other embodiments of the computing device 550 may also be for use in the hybrid communication system 100, which means that even if the other embodiments have more or fewer parts than shown in FIG. Whether it has one or more coupled parts, or has different configurations of parts, or has different arrangements of parts. Moreover, the various components shown in FIG. 10 can be implemented in hardware, in a processor that executes software instructions, or in a combination of both hardware and a processor that executes software instructions. Includes one or more signal processing and / or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

Of course, the applications and benefits of the systems, methods and techniques described herein are not limited to the above examples. Many other applications or benefits are conceivable by using the systems, methods and techniques described herein.

Further, where performed, any of the methods and techniques described herein, or parts thereof, are stored in one or more non-temporary, tangible, computer-readable storage media or memory. It may be implemented by running software, where one or more non-temporary, tangible computer-readable storage media or memory is a magnetic disk, laser disk, optical disk, semiconductor memory, biological memory. , Other memory devices, or other storage media in RAMs or ROMs such as computers or processors.

Moreover, although the above sentence specifies a detailed description of a number of different embodiments, it is understood that the scope of this patent is defined by the words of the claims specified at the end of this patent. I want to be. The detailed description should be construed as representative only and does not describe all possible embodiments. Because it is impractical, if not impossible, to explain all possible embodiments. Numerous alternative embodiments may be implemented by using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, but these are claimed. Will still be within range. By way of example, but not limited to, the disclosure herein contemplates at least the following aspects:

[Aspect 1]
A method for optimizing the use of a modem on a vehicle, including the following steps:
In a processor fixedly connected to the vehicle, a step of determining that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states, wherein each of the plurality of port states is such that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states. The step indicating that it is near the vehicle port;
A step that causes a first radio communication link to be established in a first modem by the processor, the modem being a modem that is fixedly connected to the vehicle and tuned to the first frequency band. The establishment of the first wireless communication link is based on (i) the determination that the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states, and (ii) the first modem is in the receive-only state. The step, including causing
A step that causes a second radio communication link to be established in a second modem by the processor, the modem being a modem that is fixedly connected to the vehicle and tuned to the second frequency band. The second radio communication link is established between the second modem and a transceiver that is fixedly connected to a structure that is outside the vehicle and away from the vehicle.
In the step of using the first wireless communication link as a forward link, the first data is stored in the vehicle while the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states via the forward link. The step which can be received; and the step of using the second radio communication link as a reverse link, wherein the reverse link corresponds to the forward link and is from the maximum band of the forward link. Also having a low maximum bandwidth, the second data can be transmitted from the vehicle over the reverse link while the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states.

[Aspect 2]
The method of the embodiment, wherein the vehicle is a particular vehicle, further comprises receiving the multicast transmission through the first radio communication link in the particular vehicle, wherein the multicast transmission is: The method of being multicast to a plurality of vehicles including the particular vehicle.

[Aspect 3]
In any one of the above embodiments:
Using the first radio communication link as the forward link is to use the first radio communication link to be external to and outside the vehicle with a computing device fixedly connected to the vehicle and the vehicle. Includes supporting at least a portion of the forward link of the data communication tunnel to and from the data center away from; and using the second radio communication link as the reverse link corresponding to the forward link. That includes using the second radio communication link to support at least a portion of the reverse link of the data communication tunnel; and the first data is provided by the data center and.
The method, wherein the second data is received at the data center.

[Aspect 4]
In any one of the above embodiments:
Determining that the vehicle is in one of the plurality of port states determines that the vehicle is in a wheel-loaded state, on the ground, parked, and stationary. The method comprising determining to be in one of a plurality of port states comprising; or said said plurality of port states being included in a plurality of flight states of the vehicle.

[Aspect 5]
In any one of the above embodiments, establishing the first wireless communication link using the first modem adjusted to the first frequency band means that the first wireless communication link is referred to as the following. Including establishing with the first modem tuned to at least one of: L frequency band, Ka frequency band, Ku frequency band, another frequency band allocated for satellite communication, or broadband. The frequency band allocated for communication.

[Aspect 6]
In any one of the above embodiments, establishing the second radio communication link using the second modem adjusted to the second frequency band means that the second radio communication link is referred to as the following. Including establishing with the second modem tuned to at least one of: Wi-Fi frequency band, WiMAX frequency band, another frequency band allocated for terrestrial mobile radio communication, Or the frequency band allocated for direct air-to-ground (ATG) communication.

[Aspect 7]
A method for optimizing the use of a modem on a vehicle, wherein the method comprises or does not include any one of the embodiments, the method comprises the following steps:
In a data center processor, a step of determining that a vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states, where each port state of the plurality of port states is such that the vehicle is near a vehicle port. And that the plurality of port states are included in the plurality of flight states of the vehicle, said step;
A step that causes a data communication tunnel to be established by the processor in the data center, which is a tunnel between the data center and a computing device mounted on the vehicle. The computing device includes a vehicle-side endpoint of the data communication tunnel, and the data communication tunnel is supported by a forward communication link and a reverse communication link, the forward link connecting directly to a first modem. The first modem is (i) fixedly connected to the vehicle, (ii) in a receive-only state, (iii) tuned to the first frequency band, and the reverse link to the second modem. Directly connected, the second modem is (i) fixedly connected to the vehicle and (ii) tuned to the second frequency band, said step;
A step that causes content data to be delivered by the processor in the data center while the vehicle is in one of the plurality of port states, the delivery to the on-board computing device. The delivery is made using the forward link of the data communication tunnel, the forward link being the step supported by the forward communication link; and the step of receiving feedback data. The feedback data corresponds to the content data, the reception is done in the data center via the reverse link of the data communication tunnel, and the reverse link is supported by the reverse communication link. The reception takes place while the vehicle is in one of the plurality of port states, said step.

[Aspect 8]
In any one of the above embodiments, the vehicle is a particular vehicle and causes the content data to be delivered to the particular vehicle by the data center in a plurality of the content data. The method comprising causing the vehicle to be multicast, wherein the plurality of vehicles include said particular vehicle.

[Aspect 9]
The method which is any one of the above-mentioned aspects and is at least one of the following:
(I) Establishing the data communication tunnel supported by the forward communication link directly connected to the first modem tuned to the first frequency band is tuned to at least one of the following: Includes establishing the data communication tunnel supported by the forward communication link directly connected to the first modem: L frequency band, Ka frequency band, Ku frequency band, assigned for satellite communication. Another frequency band, or frequency band allocated for broadband radio communication; or (ii) said data communication including said reverse communication link directly connected to said said second modem tuned to said second frequency band. Establishing a tunnel involves establishing the data communication tunnel supported by the reverse communication link directly connected to a second modem coordinated to at least one of the following: Wi-Fi. A frequency band, a WiMAX frequency band, another frequency band assigned for terrestrial mobile radio communication, or a frequency band assigned for direct air-to-ground (ATG) radio communication.

[Aspect 10]
In any one of the above embodiments, establishing the data communication tunnel supported by the forward communication link and the reverse communication link is the data communication tunnel supported by the forward communication link. The method, wherein the forward communication link has a data transmission rate that is at least four times higher than the data transmission rate of the reverse communication link.

[Aspect 11]
A hybrid communication system for optimizing the use of a modem on a vehicle, wherein the hybrid communication system is configured or not configured to perform any one of the above embodiments. Includes: one or more processors and one or more non-temporary, tangible, computer-readable storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions.
Instructions that can be executed by the computer can cause the hybrid communication system to perform the following operations when executed by the one or more processors:
When the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states indicating that the vehicle is in the vicinity of the vehicle port, a data communication tunnel is provided between the computing device and the computing device fixedly connected to the vehicle. To be established (where the computing device is the receiving computing device and includes the endpoints of the data communication tunnel).
The data communication tunnel can include: (a) a forward communication link, the link is at least partially supported by the forward communication link, and the forward communication link is connected to a first modem. The modem is (i) fixedly connected to the vehicle and communicably connected to the receiving computing device, (ii) in a receive-only state, and (iii) tuned to the first frequency band. The forward tunnel link; and (b) the reverse tunnel link, the link being at least partially supported by the reverse communication link, the reverse communication link being connected to a second modem. The reverse communication link, wherein the modem is (i) fixedly connected to the vehicle and communicably connected to the receiving computing device, and (ii) tuned to a second frequency band.
Instructions that can be executed by the computer can cause the following actions when executed by the one or more processors:
Causes the hybrid communication system to deliver content data to the receiving computing device through the forward tunnel link while the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states; and said. Inducing the hybrid communication system to receive feedback data corresponding to the content data through the reverse tunnel link while the vehicle is in one of the plurality of port states.

[Aspect 12]
In any one of the above embodiments, the first frequency band is one of the following: L frequency band, Ka frequency band, Ku frequency band, assigned for satellite communication. Another frequency band, or another frequency band allocated for broadband radio communication.

[Aspect 13]
In any one of the above embodiments, the second frequency band is one of the following: Wi-Fi frequency band, WiMAX frequency band, allocated for terrestrial mobile radio communication. Another frequency band assigned, or the frequency band allocated for direct air-to-ground (ATG) radio communication.

[Aspect 14]
A hybrid communication system of any one of the above embodiments, the content data comprising at least one of the following: presented at the user interface of a portable device temporarily transported by the vehicle. Data, configuration data for setting the on-board device fixedly connected to the vehicle, or executable instructions to be executed by the on-board device fixedly connected to the vehicle.

[Aspect 15]
A hybrid communication system on a vehicle, a system for optimizing the use of a processor on a vehicle, wherein the hybrid communication system includes or does not include any one of the above embodiments. A hybrid communication system includes one or more processors and one or more non-temporary, tangible, computer-readable storage media for storing computer-executable instructions, the instructions being executed by the one or more processors. When so, it can cause the hybrid communication system to determine that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states (indicating that the vehicle is in the vicinity of the vehicle port). The instructions that the computer can execute can further cause the hybrid communication system to trigger the following actions based on the determination that the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states: Causes the establishment of a receive-only radio communication link on the tuned first frequency band (where the first modem is fixedly connected to the vehicle). In addition, the computer-executable instructions can cause the hybrid communication system to cause the hybrid communication system to: (Here, the second modem is fixedly connected to the vehicle); while the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states, the content data is transferred to the vehicle by the receive-only radio. Receiving via the communication link; and while the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states, feedback data corresponding to the content data is from the vehicle via the bidirectional wireless communication link. To cause it to be sent.

[Aspect 16]
A hybrid communication system according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the content data is included in a multicast transmission received by the vehicle through the receive-only wireless communication link.

[Aspect 17]
In any one of the above embodiments, the instructions capable of being executed by the computer further cause the following operations when executed by the one or more processors: the content in the hybrid communication system. Extracting data from the multicast transmission; and delivering the content data, said delivery to a receiving device mounted on the vehicle, said delivery to a communication network contained within the vehicle. It is done in unicast transmission indicating the receiving device.

[Aspect 18]
In any one of the above embodiments, the receive-only wireless communication link is forward data of a data communication tunnel between a data center and a computing device fixedly connected to the vehicle. The system, which is a high speed portion of the link, wherein the bidirectional radio communication link is a low speed portion of the reverse data link of the data communication tunnel.

[Aspect 19]
A hybrid communication system according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the system:
(I) The first frequency band is one of the following: the Ka frequency band, the Ku frequency band, another frequency band allocated for communication with the satellite, or for broadband radio communication. Another frequency band assigned to; or (ii) the second frequency band is one of the following: Wi-Fi frequency band; WiMAX frequency band; another frequency band assigned for terrestrial radio communication. ; Or the air-to-ground frequency band allocated for data delivery.
Here, the vehicle is in flight and is performed directly between the second modem and the transceiver, which is fixedly connected to a structure stationary at a location on the ground.

[Aspect 20]
In any one of the above embodiments, the plurality of port states are determined based on at least one of the following: the system: the geospatial location of the vehicle relative to the vehicle port; The content of the radio signal transmitted by the transceiver fixedly located at the vehicle port and received by the vehicle; or the quality of the radio signal transmitted by the transceiver fixedly located at the vehicle port and received by the vehicle.

Accordingly, many modifications and variations may be implemented in the techniques, methods and structures described and exemplified herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this claim. It should therefore be understood that the methods and devices described herein are merely exemplary and not limiting in the scope of the claims.

Claims (22)

A method for optimizing the use of a modem on a vehicle, including the following steps:
In a processor fixedly connected to the vehicle, a step of determining that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states, where each of the plurality of port states is such that the vehicle is a vehicle port. The step indicating that it is in the vicinity;
When the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states, the processor causes the modem to be in a receive-only state, the modem operates in (i) bidirectional mode and (ii) said. The step, fixedly connected to the vehicle;
Steps to establish a wireless communication link in the modem that is in a receive-only state;
In the step of using the wireless communication link as a forward link, data may be received by the vehicle via the forward link while the vehicle is one of the plurality of port states. Yes, that step. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of putting the modem in a receive-only state comprises adjusting the modem to a frequency band. The method according to claim 2, be adjusted to a certain frequency band of the modem comprises adjusting said modem to at least one of the following: L frequency band, K _a frequency band, _Ku frequency band, 2.4 GHz frequency band, LTE (long-term evolution) frequency band, another frequency band allocated for satellite communication, or frequency band allocated for broadband communication. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the wireless communication link as a forward link comprises selecting the forward link from one or more forward links. Selecting the forward link from one or more forward links comprises selecting the forward link based on the type of content to be delivered to the one or more devices mounted on the vehicle. The method according to claim 4. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting the forward link from one or more forward links comprises selecting the forward link based on feedback data or information received from the vehicle. The step of using the wireless communication link as a forward link, which is a link capable of receiving data to the vehicle, transfers the data to one or more mounted receiving devices that are communicatively connected to the vehicle. The method of claim 1, comprising delivering. A hybrid communication system on a vehicle for optimizing the use of a modem on a vehicle.
One or more processors; and one or more non-transient, tangible, computer-readable storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions.
The hybrid communication system including
When the instructions are executed by the one or more processors, the system causes the hybrid communication system to perform the following operations:
Determining that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states indicating that the vehicle is in the vicinity of the vehicle port.
When it is determined that there is the vehicle in one state of the plurality of port state, the modem that is fixedly connected to the vehicle, from the operation of the bidirectional mode, to the operation of the receive-only modes To change and
Receiving data on the vehicle over a forward link while the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states. 8. The system of claim 8, wherein the instruction to operate the modem in receive-only mode when executed by one or more processors further tunes the modem to a frequency band by the hybrid communication system. The hybrid communication system according to claim 9, wherein when executed by the one or more processors, the instruction is further transmitted by the hybrid communication system to an L frequency band, _{a Ka} frequency band, a Ku frequency band, and 2.4 GHz. The modem is tuned to one or more of a frequency band, an LTE (long-term evolution) frequency band, another frequency band allocated for satellite communications, or a frequency band allocated for broadband radio communications. When executed by the one or more processors, the instruction to receive data to the vehicle via the forward link by the hybrid communication system is further driven by the hybrid communication system from one or more forward links to the forward direction. The system of claim 8, which causes the link to be selected. When executed by the one or more processors, the instruction further causes the hybrid communication system to select the forward link based on the type of content to be delivered to the one or more devices mounted on the vehicle. , The system according to claim 11. 11. According to claim 11, the instruction further causes the hybrid communication system to select the forward link based on feedback data or information received from the vehicle when executed by the one or more processors. system. When executed by the one or more processors, the instruction to receive data to the vehicle via a forward link by the hybrid communication system is further communicated with one or more to the vehicle by the hybrid communication system. The system according to claim 8, wherein the data is delivered to the receiving device on which the data is mounted. While running in the interactive mode, at least one of the forward or reverse link supported by the modem is limited to LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication link or within the frequency band of 2.4GHz, The system of claim 8, comprising at least one of the communication links provided. A computer-readable medium containing and containing non-transient computer-readable instructions for optimizing the use of a modem on a vehicle.
The command is
Determining that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states indicating that the vehicle is in the vicinity of the vehicle port by a processor fixedly connected to the vehicle.
A modem operated by the processor in (i) bidirectional mode and (ii) fixedly connected to the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states. However, to make it receive-only,
Establishing a wireless communication link in the modem that is in the receive-only state, and
A medium comprising using the radio communication link as a forward link capable of receiving data on the vehicle while the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states. 16. The medium of claim 16, wherein ensuring that the modem is in a receive-only state comprises adjusting the modem to a frequency band. Adjusting the frequency band with the modem includes adjusting the modem to at least one of the following, medium of claim 17: L frequency band, K _a frequency band, K _u frequency band 2.4 GHz frequency band, LTE (long-term evolution) frequency band, another frequency band allocated for satellite communication, or frequency band allocated for broadband wireless communication. 16. The medium of claim 16, wherein using the wireless communication link as a forward link comprises selecting the forward link from one or more forward links. Selecting the forward link from one or more forward links comprises selecting the forward link based on the type of content to be delivered to the one or more devices mounted on the vehicle. The medium according to claim 19. 19. The medium of claim 19, wherein selecting the forward link from one or more forward links comprises selecting the forward link based on feedback data or information received from the vehicle. Limit while running the interactive mode, at least one of forward or reverse link supported by the modem, the LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication link or within the frequency band of 2.4GHz, The medium of claim 16, comprising at least one of the communication links made.

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